By Gabriel Ameh
ABUJA — Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional integration, peace, economic cooperation and stability within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the commitment in Abuja while speaking at the handover ceremony for outgoing and incoming statutory appointees of ECOWAS institutions.
Representing the Federal Government and conveying the greetings and best wishes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the minister described the transition as an important demonstration of continuity in the collective pursuit of regional integration, more than five decades after ECOWAS was established.
Enikanolaiye urged the incoming leadership to remain committed to the vision of the founding fathers of ECOWAS — a united, peaceful, prosperous and integrated West Africa.
He particularly called for the development of an “ECOWAS of citizens and not of governments,” with policies and programmes that directly improve the lives and economic opportunities of people across the region.
The minister charged the new leadership to prioritise the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2050, titled “The ECOWAS of Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All.”
According to him, key areas of focus should include free movement of people, intra-regional trade and investment, infrastructure development, food and energy security, youth and women empowerment, and job creation.
He also stressed the importance of financial probity, accountability, cost-effectiveness and prudent management of the Community’s resources.
Enikanolaiye noted that ECOWAS must ensure that the huge financial contributions made by Nigeria and other member states through the Community Levy translate into meaningful development and benefits for citizens.
The minister further identified peace and security as fundamental to achieving sustainable economic integration in West Africa.
He called for increased engagement with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) countries, stressing that the countries remain “brothers and sisters” with shared challenges and aspirations.
While commending the outgoing ECOWAS leadership for its service, Enikanolaiye congratulated the incoming statutory appointees and urged them to provide leadership based on vision, integrity, efficiency and service 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.
Diop Takes Over as ECOWAS Commission President
The handover ceremony also marked the assumption of office of General Birame Diop as the new President of the ECOWAS Commission.
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 succeeds Dr. Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia, whose four-year tenure as President of the Commission has ended.
The new ECOWAS Commission President has pledged to provide strategic leadership aimed at strengthening regional integration, peace and security, economic cooperation and institutional effectiveness.
Anthony Ogunjimi of Nigeria will serve as the new Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, while the Commissioners and other statutory appointees have also been replaced as part of the leadership transition.
The Abuja 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; officials and staff of ECOWAS institutions; and members of the press.
