Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to the growth, stability and integration of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as new statutory appointees of the regional bloc assume office in Abuja.
The Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, gave the assurance during the handover ceremony for outgoing and incoming statutory appointees of ECOWAS institutions.
Enikanolaiye, who served as Host Minister, conveyed the greetings and best wishes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and described 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 new leadership to remain committed to the vision of the founding fathers of ECOWAS, which is to build a united, peaceful, prosperous and integrated West Africa.
The Minister particularly called for the development of an “ECOWAS of citizens and not of governments,” urging the incoming management to prioritise the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2050, titled “The ECOWAS of Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All.”
According to him, the vision should be pursued through greater attention to free movement of persons, intra-regional trade and investment, infrastructure development, food and energy security, youth and women empowerment, as well as job creation.
Enikanolaiye also stressed the need for financial probity, accountability, cost-effectiveness and prudent management of the resources of the regional organisation.
He noted that ECOWAS must justify the substantial investments made by Nigeria and other member states through the Community Levy by delivering tangible benefits to citizens across the region.
On regional security, the Minister maintained that peace and stability remained the foundation for sustainable economic integration, urging intensified engagement with countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
He called on ECOWAS to engage the AES countries as “brothers and sisters” with common challenges and aspirations, stressing the importance of dialogue in addressing regional differences.
While commending the outgoing President, Commissioners and Heads of ECOWAS institutions for their contributions, Enikanolaiye congratulated the incoming leadership and charged them to lead with vision, integrity, efficiency and a strong commitment to serving 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 transition also saw General Birame Diop assume office 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.
Nigeria’s Anthony Ogunjimi 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 ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, H.E. Cheikh Niang; members of the Permanent Representatives Committee; Chair of the ECOWAS Business Council, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; staff of ECOWAS institutions and members of the media.
