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The Nigerian Government has urged the new leadership of the Economic Community of West African States to intensify engagement with countries under the Alliance of Sahel States, describing them as “brothers and sisters” with shared challenges and aspirations.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during the handover ceremony for outgoing and incoming statutory appointees of ECOWAS institutions.
Enikanolaiye, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the ceremony, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the progress, growth and stability of the regional bloc.
The minister said peace and security remained the foundation of economic integration, urging ECOWAS to strengthen dialogue with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which make up the AES.
He also urged the new leadership to remain committed to the vision of the founding fathers of a united, peaceful, prosperous and integrated West Africa.
Enikanolaiye called on the incoming management to prioritise the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2050, titled “The ECOWAS of Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All.”
Credit: Punch
He identified free movement, intra-regional trade and investment, infrastructure development, food and energy security, youth and women’s empowerment, and job creation as areas requiring greater attention.
The minister further called for financial probity, accountability, cost-effectiveness and prudent management of the regional organisation’s resources.
He said ECOWAS must justify the investments made by Nigeria and other member states through the Community Levy.
“Nigeria remains committed to working constructively with the new leadership and all Member States towards a stronger, more integrated and people-centred ECOWAS,” Enikanolaiye said.
He commended the outgoing President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia, as well as the commissioners and heads of institutions, for their service to the regional organisation.
The minister also congratulated the incoming leadership and urged them to lead with “vision, integrity, efficiency and service to community citizens.”
The new President of the ECOWAS Commission, General Birame Diop, 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, succeeded Touray, whose four-year tenure had ended.
The new ECOWAS president pledged to provide strategic leadership aimed at strengthening regional integration, peace and security, economic cooperation and institutional effectiveness.
A Nigerian, Anthony Ogunjimi, also assumed office as the new Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, while newly appointed commissioners took up their respective positions.
The ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Cheikh Niang; members of the Permanent Representatives Committee; Chairman of the ECOWAS Business Council, Aliko Dangote; staff of ECOWAS institutions and members of the press.
