President Bola Ahmed Tinubu paid a visit to the Nigerian Army contingent troops engaged in a peacekeeping mission in Guinea-Bissau, expressing his admiration and support for their efforts. The visit occurred during President Tinubu’s attendance at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau.
During his interaction with the troops, President Tinubu commended their dedication to maintaining peace and stability not only in West Africa but also worldwide. He emphasized that Nigeria is committed to the continued security and well-being of the West African region, particularly Guinea-Bissau. The purpose of President Tinubu’s visit was to demonstrate solidarity with the troops and reassure them of the government’s unwavering support for their welfare.
Brigadier General Alhassan Muhammad Grema, the Force Commander of the Contingent Troops, expressed gratitude for the Nigerian government’s timely payment of all allowances owed to the troops. He also highlighted their effective provision of security in Guinea-Bissau, including safeguarding the residence of the country’s President.
In a related context, Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, emphasized the potential for Nigeria to generate additional revenue by producing security equipment to secure countries in West Africa. He noted that Nigeria has deployed the largest number of soldiers to date on the peacekeeping mission.
During the ECOWAS Summit, President Tinubu is expected to address critical sub-regional issues, including the security challenges faced by member countries as outlined in the report of the 50th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council (MSC). Additionally, he will discuss the financial situation of ECOWAS and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as presented in the report of the 90th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers. The President will also provide an update on the transitional status of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.
The highlight of President Tinubu’s visit to the troops was a rousing display of three hearty cheers by the soldiers, a grand gesture honoring his presence and leadership.