ECOWAS Calls for Indigenous Defence Production and Regional Maritime Integration

Faced with shifting global geopolitics and mounting cross-border threats, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is calling on West African nations to build their own weapons and military equipment.

Speaking in Lagos at the Africa International Defence Exhibition, ECOWAS Commission President General Birame Diop warned that self-reliance is critical to overcoming foreign supply bottlenecks and effectively tackling terrorism, piracy, and cybercrime.

Reinforcing the call for joint regional action, the Nigerian Navy urged maritime security agencies across the Gulf of Guinea to streamline intelligence-sharing and harmonize operational protocols.

Representing the Navy at the summit, Commodore Isa Ahmed stressed that curbing sea trafficking and illegal fishing requires deep operational compatibility alongside hardware acquisition.

To complement military efforts, ECOWAS leaders at the Abidjan Border Forum in Côte d’Ivoire also advocated for heavier investment in border communities, highlighting grassroots development, trade, and traditional dispute resolution as vital pillars for lasting peace.