The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) authority of heads of state and government has requested that its commission immediately release $2,850,000 to each of the bloc’s five member states as part of its counterterrorism measures.

Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo are among the countries receiving assistance, all of which face varied security concerns.

The authority mandated that the payments be made from the regional security fund in a communique issued following the 68th ordinary session of the ECOWAS heads of state and government, which took place on Sunday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The authority further ordered immediate action to operationalise the regional counterterrorism brigade in conformity with the funding methods recommended by the ECOWAS finance and defense ministers, respectively.

The authority also requested that the commission conduct urgent meetings of the committees of chiefs of intelligence and defense staff to expedite the brigade’s activation.

The bloc expressed worry over the region’s deteriorating security situation, notably in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, which has seen continued attacks, kidnappings, and sabotage activities by terrorist armed groups, rebels, and bandits.

According to the ECOWAS authority of heads of state and government, six million people in the area have been displaced and face significant humanitarian issues.

The regional bloc also condemned the kidnapping of pupils in northern Nigeria and praised President Bola Tinubu for ensuring their return home.