Police of member states of the regional body, Economic Community of West African States Wednesday converge in Abuja to chart a roadmap for the establishment of a robust and standardised regional police roster to support rapid deployment and peacekeeping interventions across the sub-region.
This is the police component for Peace Support Operations (PSOs).
The military component is currently in place with about 1,500 Standby force. The regional body target is to have 5,000 regional Standby force.
In his opening remarks, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fattah El Moussa, underscored the urgency of the gathering, citing growing regional threats including terrorism, transnational organised crime, political instability, and internal conflicts.
Moussa noted that the police, alongside the military and civilian components of the ECOWAS Standby Force, play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between military intervention and long-term civilian governance.
Moussa who was represented by the Acting Head of Peace Support Operations, Sani Adamu, emphasised the critical objectives of the meeting.
“True security is not only about arms and strategy, but also about leveraging our collective strengths and resources to foster a sustainable environment of peace,” he said.
Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by ACP Aniagboso Chinedum, welcomed participants with a message emphasising regional solidarity.
“This is not just another conference — it’s a call to action. Our police forces must be adequately trained, vetted, and prepared to intervene in peacekeeping missions across the region. That is the purpose of this roster,” he stated.
Also delivering a welcome address, the Chair of the meeting, the Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police, William Sellu, noted the strategic importance of building a functional and mission-ready police database that allows for seamless deployment in crisis situations.
“This initiative will not only improve our capacity to contribute to ECOWAS-led missions but also foster professionalism, interoperability, and solidarity among our police institutions,” he added.
Participants are expected to deliberate on procedures for vetting and selection, training protocols, deployment modalities, and logistical coordination required to operationalise the regional police roster.
The meeting will also benefit from the expertise of regional training institutions and technical partners supporting the development of peacekeeping capabilities in West Africa.
The initiative aligns with the ECOWAS Standby Force’s strategic framework under the African Standby Force mechanism and forms part of the broader effort to professionalise regional responses to conflict, uphold human rights, and ensure post-conflict rehabilitation.
Stakeholders expressed hope that the outcomes would result in a practical, action-oriented tool that enhances ECOWAS’ capacity to swiftly respond to security challenges and restore order in conflict-affected areas.
The meeting is expected to conclude with the adoption of key recommendations that will inform future ECOWAS Police deployments and strengthen regional cooperation in peace operations.
