The Economic Community of West African States, in collaboration with Islamic scholars and organisations, on Thursday called for stronger unity, cooperation, and non-violent strategies to counter terrorism and extremism across West Africa and the Sahel.
The call came at the close of the first West African Islamic Conference on Security and Governance, held from November 4 to 6, 2025, at the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, Nigeria.
The theme of the event is โThe Role of Islamic Organisations in Countering Terrorism in the Sahel.โ
The three-day conference which was co-organised by ECOWAS and the Jamiyyatu Ansariddeen Attijaniyya, brought together Islamic leaders, traditional rulers, political figures, scholars, and representatives from ECOWAS member states, as well as international organisations.
In his address, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, described the conference as a landmark in regional cooperation against terrorism.
Touray acknowledged the growing threat of terrorism and violent extremism in the region, noting that โthe 2025 Global Terrorism Index report reveals a significant shift in global terrorism patterns, with Africa emerging as the new hub of terrorism. The Sahel region, in particular, has seen a dramatic increase in terrorism.โ
The ECOWAS Commission President reiterated that the regional bodyโs Action Plan Against Terrorism focuses on both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies and emphasised the need to modernise traditional Quranic schools to prevent youth radicalisation.
โWe need to improve and modernise the school system and convert them into conducive and formalised centres of learning and economic empowerment,โ he stated.
He further recognised member statesโ ongoing efforts to integrate traditional Islamic schools into national education systems.
The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, commended ECOWAS for its leadership and international partners for their collaboration.
โYour commitment to regional peace and security is a beacon of hope for our citizens,โ he said.
Calling for continued partnership between governments and religious institutions, the Emir, who is also the President of the association in Nigeria added, โLet us strive to create a region where every individual can live in peace, security, and dignity.
โLet us work together to build a brighter future for our children and our community.โ
Reading the summary of the conference, the African Union High Representative for โSilencing the Gunsโ, Mohamed Chambas stressed that the main objective of the gathering was to develop and implement an action plan that leverages Islamic organisationsโ influence to counter terrorism through non-kinetic strategies.
Chambas, who was represented by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatah Musah said, โParticipants affirmed that authentic Islamic teachings promote peace, justice, and respect for human life, rejecting all forms of extremism and violence.
โParticipants acknowledged that terrorism and violent extremism threaten social stability, economic growth, social cohesion, and national unity.
โParticipants identified poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, political marginalisation, and weak governance as key enablers of extremist recruitment.โ
Chambas urged stakeholders to remain steadfast in implementing the recommendations.
โOver 40 million children are out of school, and terrorism-related deaths have increased 10 percent in the past decade. A robust discussion shared best practices and crafted strategic recommendations to promote peace, neutrality, and stability.
โWe have recognised the importance of preventing violent extremism and promoting peace and neutrality, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.
โWe have also acknowledged the need for a coordinated cross-border approach to address the complex intersection of traditional Islamic education, youth vulnerability, and regional insecurity.
โAs we adopt the Regional Declaration on Improving Islamic Education and Countering Violent Extremism, I urge all stakeholders to remain committed to the cause.
โLet us work together to implement the recommendations and strategies outlined in this declaration. Let us empower Islamic organisations to promote a culture of peace, tolerance, and coexistence,โ he urged.
The conference, which featured 11 sessions under seven sub-themes, examined the economic, social, and political factors fueling radicalization in the region.
It also discussed reforming traditional Islamic education systems, promoting youth empowerment, and building stronger community resilience against extremist recruitment.
The conference concluded with the adoption of the Regional Declaration on Improving Islamic Education and Countering Violent Extremism, which outlines strategies to strengthen Islamic organizationsโ roles in promoting peace, tolerance, and coexistence.
Over the past decade, West Africa and the Sahel have witnessed an alarming surge in terrorist activity.
According to reports, groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State continue to exploit porous borders, weak governance, and local grievances to expand their influence across Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, the northern part of Nigeria, and parts of coastal West Africa.
The Pentagon is set to restore the name of the US Indo-Pacific Command to the US Pacific Command, it said on Tuesday, reversing a 2018 decision.
The renaming will not change the commandโs area of responsibility, which stretches from the western part of India to Americaโs Pacific coastline, the Department of War said in a statement.
Its โfundamental mission and its unwavering commitment to maintaining a free and open theatre alongside regional allies and partnersโ also remain unchanged, it added.
The name change โhonours the commandโs deep historical roots, fostering a sense of pride and collective spirit among all who serve in the Pacific,โ the department said, without giving additional details.
The US Pacific Command was established by former President Harry Truman after World War II.
It operated under that name for over 70 years before being renamed as the US Indo-Pacific Command in 2018, in a nod to the growing importance of the Indian Ocean in US strategic thinking.
The 2018 name change also came as part of broader efforts by Washington to counter Chinaโs growing influence across the Asia-Pacific domain.
The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress said they will restart negotiations with the Federal Government over a new national minimum wage, warning that workers can no longer cope with rising living costs as inflation continues to erode real incomes.
The unions are pushing for what they described as a โgenuine living wageโ to replace the current framework, which they said no longer reflects Nigeriaโs economic realities, particularly sharp increases in food, transport, housing, and healthcare costs.
The position was contained in a joint address delivered at the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva on Monday, where the unions also rejected any proposal to tax the minimum wage or impose additional fiscal burdens on low-income earners.
Nigeriaโs current minimum wage of N70,000 was signed into law on 18 July 2024, in an agreement between organised labour and the federal government. President Bola Tinubu formally announced the wage on 19 July 2024, and it took effect on 29 July 2024.
The agreement originally set a three-year review cycle, shifting from the previous five-year arrangement. However, in January 2025, the Federal Government adjusted the framework, announcing that the minimum wage would now be reviewed every two years, effectively setting 2026 as the next review point.
In light of this, labour leaders said they intend to formally open discussions with the federal government ahead of the July 2026 wage renegotiation deadline, in a bid to prevent the delays that have often hindered previous minimum wage reviews.
โThe current Act expires early next year, and we have announced that renegotiation will commence by July 2026 to avoid the painful delays of the past. As soon as we leave here, we shall write again to the government demanding the commencement of the process for renegotiating the national minimum wage,โ the unions said.
The labour leaders said workers are already under severe pressure from inflation, currency depreciation, and rising costs across essential services, arguing that official economic indicators do not reflect the daily realities of most households.
They warned that taxing the minimum wage would worsen poverty and deepen economic hardship at a time when many citizens are struggling to meet basic needs.
โWe demand nothing less than a genuine living wage that reflects todayโs harsh economic realities. We also demand immediate relief measures by governments at all levels until a new minimum wage is signed into law. We reject outright any attempt to tax the minimum wage or impose further burdens on the poor,โ the unions said in their communiquรฉ.
The unions stressed that the upcoming negotiations must go beyond nominal wage adjustments and instead focus on protecting real incomes, which they said have been steadily eroded by inflation.
They also urged federal and state governments to introduce short-term relief measures pending the conclusion of negotiations, warning that delays could heighten industrial tensions across the country.
Beyond wage concerns, the labour movement used the Geneva platform to highlight broader economic and social challenges, including insecurity, unemployment, and rising poverty levels.
They said insecurity in several parts of the country has made commuting increasingly dangerous for workers, with killings, abductions, and displacement affecting productivity and livelihoods.
According to the unions, nearly 2,000 people were killed in the first quarter of the year, while millions have been displaced, with entire communities and economic activities disrupted by violence.
They warned that worsening insecurity could force workers to remain at home as a survival response, escalating tensions beyond traditional labour action if not urgently addressed.
The labour leaders also said about 65 per cent of Nigerians, estimated at roughly 150 million people, are currently living in multidimensional poverty, driven by inflation, job losses, and declining purchasing power.
They argued that while macroeconomic reforms are aimed at stabilisation, they have yet to translate into improved living standards for ordinary citizens.
As the 2027 general elections approach, the unions said they are developing a charter of demands to shape their engagement with political actors and inform their support for candidates, noting thatย only political actors who commit to improved security, functional public services, wage reforms, and protection of labour rights would receive their backing.
The labour movement also raised concerns over alleged interference in union affairs in some states, accusing certain governments of undermining democratically elected labour leadership structures.
They emphasised that organised labour would resist any attempt to weaken union independence or impose external control on labour organisations.
As the current wage regime approaches its 2026 review window, the unions said their priority remains securing a wage structure that reflects economic realities and protects workers from further erosion of income.
They maintained that the outcome of the upcoming negotiations would determine whether Nigerian workers receive what they termed a โliving wageโ or continue to endure worsening economic hardship.
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday called for the deployment of modern technology and stronger regional cooperation to strengthen Nigeriaโs border security architecture and address growing security threats across the country.
FILE: Akpabio
They made the call at the opening of the 15th National Security Seminar organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College in Abuja.
Represented by the Director of Policy and Strategy at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Yazid Gbemudu, the NSA said Nigeriaโs territorial integrity and national stability were closely tied to the effectiveness of its border security framework.
He noted that while Nigeriaโs extensive land and maritime borders facilitated trade, regional integration and socio-economic development, they also exposed the country to threats including terrorism, arms trafficking, smuggling, human trafficking, irregular migration and other forms of transnational organised crime.
According to him, weak border governance creates vulnerabilities that can be exploited by criminal and terrorist networks, thereby undermining national security and development efforts.
โA major pillar of Nigeriaโs contemporary border security framework is the National Border Management Strategy, which promotes an integrated border management approach.
โThe strategy seeks to enhance intelligence collaboration, strengthen border infrastructure, improve surveillance capabilities and modernise border management processes,โ he said.
Ribadu said the deployment of Border Management Information Systems and other technological solutions at key entry and exit points had improved data collection, traveller screening and migration monitoring.
โThese initiatives demonstrate Nigeriaโs commitment to aligning its border management practices with international standards,โ he added.
The NSA stressed the need for the full implementation of an integrated border management system to improve coordination among security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
โEffective intelligence sharing, joint operations and harmonised border procedures are essential for addressing contemporary security threats,โ he said.
He also advocated increased investment in technology-driven border security solutions.
โExpanding surveillance systems across land, maritime and coastal borders will significantly improve monitoring capabilities and reduce illegal cross-border activities.
โModern challenges require modern solutions, including biometric identification systems, advanced border monitoring technologies and data-driven security frameworks,โ Ribadu stated.
The NSA further emphasised the importance of regional and bilateral cooperation, noting that many of the security challenges confronting Nigeriaโs borders were transnational in nature and required coordinated responses among neighbouring countries.
He also called for greater investment in border communities through sustainable development, improved infrastructure and economic opportunities to reduce their vulnerability to criminal exploitation.
โStrengthening Nigeriaโs border security architecture is fundamental to ensuring national stability, protecting territorial integrity and promoting socio-economic development,โ he said.
Ribadu, however, acknowledged challenges such as porous borders, inadequate infrastructure, limited technological capabilities and gaps in inter-agency coordination, saying they required urgent attention.
โBorder security is a shared responsibility that requires the collective efforts of security agencies, government institutions, border communities and international partners,โ he added.
Speaking at the event, Akpabio, who was represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Ahmad Lawan, said Nigeriaโs extensive land and maritime boundaries posed significant security challenges.
โAs a country with extensive land and maritime boundaries, Nigeria faces significant challenges relating to border control, illegal migration, arms trafficking, smuggling and the infiltration of criminal and extremist elements.
โIt is, therefore, imperative that Nigeria prioritises the strengthening of its border security architecture through improved surveillance, enhanced infrastructure, better inter-agency coordination, technological innovation and stronger regional cooperation,โ he said.
Akpabio noted that many of the security threats confronting Nigeria had transnational dimensions, making coordinated responses essential.
He stressed that peace and security remained prerequisites for meaningful national development.
โThere can be no meaningful development without peace and security. Porous and poorly managed borders can become vulnerabilities that undermine national security efforts and national stability,โ he said.
The Senate President also advocated a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to addressing insecurity.
According to him, government institutions, security agencies, civil society organisations, the private sector, traditional institutions, the media and academia all have critical roles to play in safeguarding the country.
Earlier, the Acting President of AANDEC, Commodore Amatare Kpou (retd.), described the seminar as a key platform for promoting informed discourse on national security challenges and opportunities.
Kpou said the theme of the seminar, โStrengthening Nigeriaโs Border Security Architecture for National Stability,โ was timely, given the growing threats of irregular migration, smuggling, trafficking and other cross-border crimes.
He expressed confidence that the deliberations would generate useful recommendations for policymakers and contribute to efforts aimed at building a safer and more secure Nigeria.
Nigeria shares over 4,000 kilometres of land borders with neighbouring countries and an extensive coastline, making border security a critical component of national security.
Authorities have repeatedly identified porous borders as channels for terrorism, arms smuggling, human trafficking and other transnational crimes.
The Federal Government has in recent years intensified efforts to strengthen border management through technology, intelligence sharing and regional cooperation.
