By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to the progress, growth and stability of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), urging the new leadership of the regional bloc to prioritize integration, accountability and the welfare of citizens.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the handover ceremony for outgoing and incoming statutory appointees of ECOWAS institutions.
Enikanolaiye, who served as the host minister at the ceremony, conveyed the greetings and best wishes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the transition as a demonstration of continuity in the collective pursuit of regional integration more than five decades after the establishment of ECOWAS.
He urged the incoming leadership to remain committed to the vision of the founding fathers of a united, peaceful, prosperous and integrated West Africa, while working towards an “ECOWAS of citizens and not of governments.”
The minister called on the new management to accelerate the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2050, titled “The ECOWAS of Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All.”
He identified free movement, intra-regional trade and investment, infrastructure development, food and energy security, youth and women empowerment, and job creation as key priorities requiring greater attention.
Enikanolaiye also stressed the need for financial probity, accountability, cost-effectiveness and prudent management of the resources of the regional organization.
He noted that ECOWAS must justify the substantial investments made by Nigeria and other member states through the Community Levy by ensuring that resources are deployed effectively to achieve the objectives of regional integration.
The minister further emphasized that peace and security remained the foundation for sustainable economic integration, calling for increased engagement with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) countries.
According to him, the countries should be engaged as “brothers and sisters” with shared challenges and aspirations, despite their current differences with ECOWAS.
While commending the outgoing President of the ECOWAS Commission, Commissioners and Heads of Institutions for their contributions, Enikanolaiye congratulated the incoming officials and urged them to lead with vision, integrity, efficiency and commitment to the citizens of the Community.
“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.
The new President of the ECOWAS Commission, General Birame Diop, has assumed office, succeeding Dr. Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia, whose four-year tenure has ended.
Diop, a former Senegalese Minister of Defence and former Chief of the General Staff of the Senegalese Armed Forces, was appointed by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its 69th Ordinary Summit in Sierra Leone.
He has pledged to provide strategic leadership aimed at strengthening regional integration, peace and security, economic cooperation and institutional effectiveness.
Anthony Ogunjimi of Nigeria has been appointed Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, while the Commissioners have also been replaced as part of the transition.
The ceremony was attended by the Chair 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; staff of ECOWAS institutions and members of the press.
