By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Executive Director of Police Services, Mr. Stephen KAVANAGH, and Ambassador Dr. Abdel-Fatau MUSAH, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the ECOWAS Commission have met to collaborate on security challenges in the region.
Kavangh was on a two day working visit at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja on January 17, 2023, for an Interpol meeting to strengthen cooperation and to review ongoing activities with ECOWAS and other institutions in Nigeria.
Mr. KAVANAGH was accompanied by Mr. Theos BADEGE, Assistant Director IT Services, Richard GOTWE, Head of the West Africa Police Information System (WAPIS) Programme, Mohamed Yansaneh, WAPIS Programme Coordinator at the ECOWAS Commission.
He lauded the Commission for its efforts in the fight against cybercrime, counterterrorism, illegal migration in the region and commended the leadership of commissioner Abdel-Fatau in the WAPIS project.
Commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah, noted that 2023 is a year marked by serious security challenges, such as terrorism, trafficking and promised to strengthen cooperation between ECOWAS and INTERPOL.
Musah emphasised the need for INTERPOL to work more closely with GIABA, the ECOWAS body leading the fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism in West Africa.
He also called for a win-win relationship and reciprocity between third parties and ECOWAS in joint efforts to combat transnational organized crime.
Mr. Richard GOTWE, Head of WAPIS Programme, indicated that the WAPIS project is in its operationalization phase at the national level, and more than half of the Member States have the system installed and operational.
He also called for the strengthening of cooperation at the regional level for the full achievement of the project’s objectives.
