Leadership (Abuja)
Jacob
7 November 2009
Abuja — The ECOWAS Vision 2020 as framed by the new ECOWAS Commission and adopted by heads of government would not be achieved without peace and security in the sub-region, the president of ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Ibn Chambers has said.
Speaking at the second meeting of the Committee of Chiefs of Security Services, (CCSS) yesterday in Abuja, Chambers stated, "Without peace and security, ECOWAS Vision 2020 will never see the light."According to him, the committee, which is charged with creating a borderless, peaceful, fully integrated and prosperous West African region, driven by its citizens to become a dynamic actor and partner of the international community, is an important building block in its structure.This, the president said, had been done within the framework of the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF), including setting up the military, police and civilian components, noting that the committee on inception, had instructed the redrafting of the ESF vision to infuse a police input.Chambers explained that the report of the meeting, which among others would adopt the outcome of technical committee report on ESF, exchange views on security issues relating to the region as well as make recommendations, would be submitted to be examined and adopted by the seventh session of the Forum of Ministers in charge of security.
Speaking, the inspector- general of Police (IGP), Ogbonna Onovo, said the police component of the ESF would require appropriate integration training in peace support operations, noting that urgent attention to this would ensure the components' readiness in taking up a position within African Standing Force (ASF)."Dear colleagues and counterparts, we must show commitment to this project and ensure that our personnel are sensitised and mobilised to join in promoting continental peace and security."On our shoulder lies the burden of creating a prosperous and cohesive region where our people would have the capacity to access and harness our enormous resources for sustainable development and environmental preservation," Onovo urged.Declaring the meeting open, the minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame said the meeting would avail them of the opportunity to come to terms with the various issues impacting on law enforcement obligations as well as map out pragmatic courses of action to combat transnational and trans-border crime within the sub-region.
According to him, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was committed to transforming the Nigeria Police Force into a modern, dynamic, efficient, effective and responsible organisation.The ongoing reform in the Force, Lame said, derived from the administration's respect for rule of law, strengthening enforcement capacity and protection of lives and property embraced within internal security of the 7-point agenda.
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