The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on Friday, said it has approved the total sum of $1m to fight terrorism in Nigeria in 2024.
The ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof Fatou Sow Sarr, disclosed this while making her presentation at the ECOWAS parliament plenary in Abuja.
She said: “In addition to meeting basic needs, the Human Response Plan (HRP) is allocating $4 million specifically for counter-terrorism efforts,” adding that $1000,000 each was given to Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic.
“These funds are essential to mitigate the impact of terrorism and armed conflict, which have seriously affected the lives of millions of people,” Prof Sow Sarr said.
Speaking further, she said the regional bloc’s HRP 2024 was designed to meet the urgent needs of 5.3 million people affected by conflict and instability in Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
She said a total budget of US$13 million was dedicated to providing vital assistance and support to the most vulnerable people in the listed countries.
The commissioner said, “This allocation reflects a commitment to meeting the diverse needs of the region, ensuring that no community is left behind”.