NAN-H-112
Cooperation
By Temitope Ponle
Abuja, March, 7, 2017 (NAN) The UN and ECOWAS are working closely to enhance human development and security in the sub-region, a statement from the ECOWAS Commission has said.
The statement, which was issued by the commission on Tuesday, said members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the commission met as part of the UNSC’s mission to countries of the Lake Chad Basin.
The countries are Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
Mr Mathew Rycroft, the President of UNSC for March and Leader of the UN delegation to Nigeria, held discussions with the commission’s Vice President, Mr Edward Singhatey.
The discussions centred on the humanitarian situation in West Africa, the Sahel and parts of Central Africa.
Both parties sought to identify the root causes of conflicts, women’s participation in peace building, disarmament, and integratio, among other issues within the sub-region.
Singhatey presented to the UN team efforts made by the commission to tackle insecurity and humanitarian problems in the region.
He said that further deliberations between both parties would address the challenges of poverty and youth unemployment.
The commission’s vice president also said ECOWAS had cordial relations with all the UN agencies and urged further collaboration with UNSC.
He expressed optimism that the current joint effort would develop a strategy aimed at resolving the insecurity situation in the sub-region.
Rycroft commended the ECOWAS intervention and resolution of the Gambian political conflict arising from the country’s presidential election.
He reiterated the commitment of UNSC to “stand with the countries in the region to fight against terrorism, humanitarian issues as well as the impending famine’’.
The Secretary-General of the Economic Community of Central African States, Ambassador Ahmed Allam-Mi said it was pertinent to adopt a common strategy in the collective fight against terrorism.
“We have discussed the situation in the Lake Chad basin.
“We will mobilise to support the member states facing Boko Haram threat.
“We have come up with a strategy that covers military, ideological, humanitarian and political”, he added. (NAN)
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Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Ese E.Ekama