Nigeria urges ECOWAS to re-engage AES countries

Nigeria has urged the Economic Community of West African States to intensify engagement with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, describing the three countries as “brothers and sisters” that share the region’s challenges and aspirations.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sola Enikanolaiye made the appeal in Abuja at a handover ceremony for outgoing and incoming ECOWAS officials. Representing President Bola Tinubu, he reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the regional bloc’s growth, progress and stability.

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brothers and sisters

Enikanolaiye said peace and security remained the foundation of economic integration and called for stronger dialogue with the Alliance of Sahel States countries. He urged the incoming ECOWAS management to uphold the vision of a united, peaceful, prosperous and integrated West Africa.

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Nigeria remains committed to working constructively with the new leadership and all Member States towards a stronger, more integrated and people-centred ECOWAS

He also pressed the organisation to implement ECOWAS Vision 2050, “The ECOWAS of Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All.” Areas he identified for greater attention included free movement, intra-regional trade and investment, infrastructure, food and energy security, youth and women’s empowerment, and job creation.

The minister called for financial probity, accountability, cost-effectiveness and careful management of ECOWAS resources. He said the organisation must justify the investments made by Nigeria and other member states through the Community Levy. General Birame Diop, a former Senegalese defence minister and army chief, has taken over as president of the ECOWAS Commission from Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia.

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The ECOWAS of Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All