The Economic Community of West African states says it allocated at least $14m to counterterrorism efforts in frontline states and to shore up humanitarian efforts in the region.
The regional bloc said it is exploring other funding options for its $2.6bn Standby Force.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who serves as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of the Heads of State and Government, revealed these as part of a one-year report highlighting the bloc’s achievements and challenges at the Sixth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union in Accra, Ghana, on Sunday.
A statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, quoted the President saying, “ECOWAS has allocated $9m to assist persons of concern, including refugees, internally displaced persons, and asylum seekers.
“The frontline Member States in the fight against terrorism have also been supported with USD4m under the ECOWAS Counter Terrorism Humanitarian Response.”