Nigeria has called on the new leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to renew the organisation’s commitment to regional integration by putting citizens’ welfare, accountability and good governance at the heart of its programmes.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the call in Abuja during the handover ceremony for outgoing and incoming statutory appointees of ECOWAS institutions.
Enikanolaiye, who represented the Federal Government at the ceremony and conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, described the transition as a significant step towards sustaining the collective vision of ECOWAS more than five decades after its establishment.
He urged the new leadership to uphold the ideals of the founding fathers by working towards a peaceful, prosperous, united and economically integrated West Africa.
The minister emphasised the need to build an “ECOWAS of citizens and not of governments,” noting that the regional bloc must ensure that its policies and programmes translate into meaningful benefits for ordinary West Africans.
He also urged the new administration to accelerate the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2050, which seeks to build “The ECOWAS of Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All.”
According to him, key areas requiring urgent attention include free movement of persons, intra-regional trade and investment, infrastructure development, food and energy security, youth and women empowerment, and job creation.
Enikanolaiye further called for greater transparency and financial discipline in the management of ECOWAS resources, stressing the need for accountability, cost-effectiveness and prudent expenditure.
He said Nigeria and other member states make substantial financial contributions to the organisation through the Community Levy and therefore expect the funds to be efficiently utilised to advance regional development.
On security, the minister stressed that peace and stability remained essential to achieving sustainable economic integration across West Africa.
He consequently advocated increased engagement with members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), describing the countries as brothers and sisters facing shared challenges and pursuing common aspirations.
While commending the outgoing President of the ECOWAS Commission, Commissioners and Heads of Institutions for their contributions to the organisation, Enikanolaiye congratulated the incoming officials and charged them to demonstrate visionary, transparent and effective leadership.
“Nigeria remains committed to working constructively with the new leadership and all Member States towards a stronger, more integrated and people-centred ECOWAS,” he said.
New ECOWAS Commission Leadership
The new President of the ECOWAS Commission, General Birame Diop of Senegal, has assumed office following his appointment by the Authority of Heads of State and Government at its 69th Ordinary Summit in Sierra Leone.
Diop, a former Senegalese Minister of Defence and former Chief of the General Staff of the Senegalese Armed Forces, succeeds Dr. Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia, whose four-year tenure has ended.
The new ECOWAS Commission President is expected to focus on strengthening regional integration, peace and security, economic cooperation and institutional efficiency.
Anthony Ogunjimi of Nigeria has assumed the position of Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, while other commissioners have also been replaced as part of the leadership transition.
The Abuja ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, H.E. Cheikh Niang; members of the Permanent Representatives Committee; Chairman of the ECOWAS Business Council, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; officials and staff of ECOWAS institutions, as well as members of the media.
