Tinubu highlights achievements of ECOWAS@50, asks for stronger ties, talks on AES
President Bola Tinubu
Tinubu highlights achievements of ECOWAS@50, asks for stronger ties, talks on AES.
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday urged leaders to prioritise addressing poverty, unemployment, and inequality, while placing a strong emphasis on education, innovation, and skills acquisition.
Tinubu also called for continued dialogue and engagement with estranged member states, especially Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, expressing a commitment to reconciliation and reintegration.
The President, represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, stated this in his speech marking the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States in Accra, Ghana.
The media aide to the minister, Magnus Eze, stated this in a statement signed on Tuesday.
According to the statement, Tinubu reflected on the bold vision that founded ECOWAS on May 28, 1975, and acknowledged the significant progress made over the last five decades.
The occasion was an opportunity to celebrate the region’s achievements in unity, resilience, and economic development.
He expressed gratitude to the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, for his leadership and contributions to regional integration, praising Ghana as a model of democratic governance and economic progress.
The President also recognised the role of the ECOWAS Commission in achieving the organisation’s milestones, including its contributions to peacekeeping and promoting democratic governance across West Africa.
He highlighted the success of ECOWAS in fostering intra-regional trade, the creation of a free trade area, and the introduction of the ECOWAS passport as symbols of regional integration.
Part of Tinubu’s speech read, “Today, we celebrate numerous remarkable achievements that distinguish ECOWAS as the most successful regional economic community on the African continent. We have established one of Africa’s most vibrant free trade areas in five decades, fostering intra-regional commerce and lifting millions from poverty.
“We have championed peace through ECOMOG’s valiant efforts, mediating conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.
“We have introduced the ECOWAS passport, symbolising our commitment to free movement.
“We have also advanced democratic norms, standing firm against tyranny and supporting transitions to constitutional governance.”
However, Tinubu stressed that while progress had been made, significant challenges remain. He noted that many citizens in the region continue to face poverty, inadequate education, and unemployment.
Furthermore, the region is confronted by new threats such as violent extremism, climate change, and food insecurity. Unconstitutional changes in government have also emerged as a serious concern, threatening the democratic gains achieved over the years.
The ECOWAS chairman lamented, “However, the journey toward a truly united and prosperous region is far from over. We must confront the hard truths of our present reality.
“Despite our shared vision, too many of our citizens still live in poverty, too many of our children lack access to quality education, and too many of our youth remain unemployed, disillusioned, or forced to seek opportunities abroad.
“Our region continues to grapple with new and evolving threats — violent extremism, climate change and food insecurity. The wave of unconstitutional changes in our region seriously threatens the democratic gains we have painstakingly built.”
As Chair of ECOWAS, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the principles of democracy, good governance, and regional solidarity, calling for a renewed focus on fostering peace and economic cooperation.
He stressed the need to place young people at the center of ECOWAS’s agenda, urging greater investment in education, innovation, and skills development to harness the potential of Africa’s future.
He also advocated for further integration, including the establishment of a single currency and improved infrastructure to connect markets across the region.
“As the current Chair of ECOWAS, I reaffirm Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the fundamental principles that bind us: democracy, the rule of law, good governance, and regional solidarity. These are not just ideals; they are the foundations for peace, development, and the dignity of our people.
“In this new chapter, we must reimagine ECOWAS as not just a Community of States but a Community of People.
“We must place our young, dynamic, creative, and resilient people at the centre of our agenda. We must invest in education, innovation, and skills development to unleash the full potential of Africa’s future. We must seek to expand the frontiers of democracy. We must limit the forays of unconstitutional rule into the democratic space. We must always seek peace towards achieving the collaborations needed for development,” the ECOWAS chairman noted.
In his closing remarks, Tinubu called for a renewed spirit of Pan-Africanism and unity.
He stressed the importance of reconciliation, urging engagement in constructive dialogue with estranged Member States.
Additionally, the president called for bold reforms to enhance ECOWAS institutions’ effectiveness, relevance, and credibility.
“Let us use this Jubilee as a moment of renewal. Let us rededicate ourselves to the spirit of Pan-Africanism that inspired our founders. Let us build an ECOWAS that is more resilient, more inclusive, and more responsive to the needs of our people.
“This moment callsfor a renewed commitment to fostering unity and solidarity among member states. It is a time to strengthen the bonds that tie us together through shared values, collective responsibility, and a common vision for a prosperous region.
“In hopes of reconciliation and reintegration, we must remain open and willing to engage in sustained, constructive dialogue with our estranged brothers, those member states currently outside our fold.
“At the same time, there is an urgent need to implement bold, comprehensive reforms that will enhance our institutions’ effectiveness, relevance, and credibility to meet the challenges of today and the future.
“By embracing these imperatives, the organisation can better respond to its people’s evolving needs and advance sustainable development, stability, and prosperity across the region,” Tinubu stated.
At the Ghana two-day meeting, ECOWAS discussed the recent withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from the regional bloc.
According to a statement issued by ECOWAS, the bloc plans to establish a structure to facilitate continued dialogue with the departing nations on the terms of their withdrawal.
The meeting also aims to address broader regional concerns arising from the departure of the three military-led countries, which officially exited from the bloc in January under the banner of the newly formed Alliance of Sahel States.
“The session is being held to deliberate on the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the regional bloc.
“Key items on the agenda include the modalities of the withdrawal process and the implications for ECOWAS Institutions and Agencies operating in the three countries. The session will also address other related matters of regional importance,” it said.
The AES, a new alliance comprising the junta-led states of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, introduced the 0.5 percent import duty on goods coming from ECOWAS nations as part of efforts to generate revenue for the alliance.
The levy, which went into effect on March 28, applies to all goods entering these three nations, excluding humanitarian aid.
The move runs counter to ECOWAS’s objective of promoting the free movement of goods among its members, including those of the AES countries, despite their official exit from the regional bloc in January 2025.
ECOWAS had previously announced that goods and services from the three countries would still be treated under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, which supports duty-free and quota-free movement of goods and services within the region.
The AES’s new import duty effectively introduces a trade barrier, challenging the ECOWAS agreement and potentially raising trade costs, disrupting supply chains, and inflating prices within the AES countries.
The move is expected to weaken the regional bloc’s free trade framework, which had previously aimed to eliminate such barriers.
The strained relations between ECOWAS and the three countries intensified following their decision in early 2024 to leave the bloc, a move that came after months of disagreements.
The junta governments in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso accused ECOWAS of failing to support them in their battle against terrorism, and of imposing sanctions that negatively affected their populations.
Despite the later withdrawal of these sanctions, the three countries remained firm in their decision to exit the bloc.
In response to their departure, ECOWAS issued guidelines designed to mitigate disruptions for businesses and citizens. These measures included provisions for duty-free trade, visa-free movement, and residence.
ECOWAS has also expressed a willingness to reopen discussions should the AES countries wish to rejoin the bloc in the future.
