The 42 ordinary meeting of ECOWAS Defence Chiefs has opened at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting will discuss regional security at a time the bloc is considering a the establishment of a force that will counter security challenges.
Defence Chiefs of Carbo Verde, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Togo are absent.
Following their previous meeting in August of last year, the defence chiefs agreed to confront the situation in the Niger Republic with a comprehensive strategy that included political, security, and diplomatic facets.
General Christopher Musa Chief of Defence Staff Nigeria/Chairman ECOWAS Committee of Defence Chiefs said the presence of the defence chiefs indicates commitment to shared interest for peace in the region.
He added that the military must uphold democratic value.
General Musa noted that the complexity of the security landscape requires the sharing of intelligence across the region.
Top on the agenda of the meeting is the Activation of ECOWAS standby force against terrorism.
Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, ECOWAS, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah stated that the 42nd ordinary meeting was delayed because of the political developments exemplified by coups in the region.
He added that this will allow the chiefs to review the implementation of the decisions taken at the previous meeting.
A road map for the activation of the ECOWAS standby force to counter terrorism will be discussed.
