The Minister of Foreign Affairs, YUSUF TUGGAR, has called upon the ECOWAS committee of chiefs of defence staff to create new mechanisms and develop recommendations that will enhance the existing convention on small arms and light weapons.

TUGGAR made this known at the 42nd meeting of ECOWAS chiefs of defence staff at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

He said this is to effectively prevent the further spread of illegal weapons in the sub-region.

TUGGAR added that the movement of illegal weapons in the West African sub-region has reached alarming levels, which is negatively impacting ECOWAS’s efforts to combat insecurity in the area. 

He noted that the committee of Chiefs of ECOWAS chief of defense staff is crucial to developing new military strategies and coordinating regional security, ensuring peace, stability, and effective responses to emerging threats.