NATIONAL STATEMENT AT THE CONFERENCE ON SECURITY SITUATION, OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES AND FUTURE RISK TRAJECTORIES IN WEST AFRICA AND THE SAHEL, ACCRA, GHANA

OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AMB. BIANCA ODUMEGWU-OJUKWU AT THE CONFERENCE ON SECURITY SITUATION, OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES AND FUTURE RISK TRAJECTORIES IN WEST AFRICA AND THE SAHEL, ACCRA, GHANA, JANUARY 30, 2026.

Distinguished Heads of States, Foreign Ministers, Intelligence Chiefs, Ladies and Gentlemen.

On behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, allow me to begin by commending Ghanaian authorities for their strategic foresight and dedication in convening this High-level meeting to deliberate on challenges that know no boundaries and affect us all.

In the last two (2) days, we have all engaged in frank dialogue and collective reflection on the grave security situation confronting West Africa and the Sahel, while seeking to identify paths of least resistance towards fostering a flexible and all-inclusive Counter Terrorism (CT) strategy to address growing insecurity and instability in the region.

2.​Nigeria acknowledges the sobering realities of violent extremism in the West Africa – Sahel region, underscored by rising violence, the evolving operational sophistication of terrorist groups, as well as the growing nexus between these groups and transnational organised criminal networks, who exploit porous borders, weakened regional cooperation and governance deficits to disrupt our livelihoods. We resonate with concerns that if left unchecked, the growing activities of terrorist groups in West Africa and the Sahel could imminently tilt the balance of power in the region, particularly with regards to their increasing abilities to destabilize State capitals.

Distinguished Delegates,

3.​We all agree that military responses alone and politicization of our shared security challenges will not solve the problem. As such, we must collectively, at mini-lateral, bi-lateral and multilateral levels, advance efforts towards fostering political and socio-economic inclusivity in our communities, creating wealth for our youthful populations, and building alliances with local and international partners, with the ultimate aim of defeating root causes such as poverty, unemployment and other macroeconomic challenges.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

4.​The path forward must be one of solidarity, continuity and pragmatism, geared towards re-establishing a robust and all-inclusive Counter Terrorism (CT) framework that reflects our shared security and economic interests. In this regard, we are in full support of the initiative to host similar high-level engagements across the region on a frequent basis – a tradition, we believe, would reflect our shared burden and collective commitment towards re-establishing multilateralism and trust among Governments in the region.

5.​While assuring you of Nigeria’s firm commitment towards transforming outcomes from this meeting into “implementation agreements” within the framework of the Communique., we stand ready to work with all stakeholders within and beyond the sub-region in transforming the recommendations from this forum into actionable policies, programs, and projects that will decisively tackle terrorism and restore stability.

However, Nigeria reiterates that international partners must fully respect African ownership and priorities, to ensure that external support complements, rather than substitutes regional and continental mechanisms in effecting African security and peace building initiatives.

In conclusion,

6.​Nigeria believes this platform must serve as a unifying force—bringing together governments, institutions, and communities to confront insecurity with resolve and solidarity. Together, we can safeguard our region and secure a future of peace and prosperity for our people.

Thank you for your attention.