Nigeria urges new ECOWAS leadership to prioritise regional unity, integration
Abdullateef Fowewe
Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on the newly appointed leadership of the ECOWAS Commission to place regional unity and integration at the centre of its agenda in order to drive progress across West Africa.
This was made known in a statement made available on Saturday by Stanley Nkwocha
Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President).
Shettima made the remarks on Friday in New York during a meeting with a delegation led by the new ECOWAS Commission President, General Birame Diop (rtd), on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
“Beyond your administrative duties, your leadership of the commission must make deliberate efforts to build bridges of friendship across the sub-region,” Shettima told the delegation.
“ECOWAS should be at the forefront of our engagement with emerging blocs in the area such as Alliance of Sahel States (AES).”
He specifically urged the new leadership to prioritise private-sector participation in the execution of the Lagos-Abidjan highway project and to promote programmes that improve the lives and livelihoods of people across the sub-region.
“I urge ECOWAS under your leadership to champion the cause of regional integration and strengthen the bonds of unity and friendship among our people,” the Vice President said.
Shettima congratulated General Diop on his election, noting that he was taking office at a difficult time that demanded greater synergy among West African leaders.
He assured the new ECOWAS head of Nigeria’s continued support, stating that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “is a man of honour and conviction who will always support efforts aimed at advancing the transformation of ECOWAS as a regional body.”
In response, General Diop praised Nigeria’s historic role in establishing and sustaining ECOWAS, describing the country as a “big brother” whose intervention remained essential for resolving insecurity and development challenges in the sub-region.
The meeting was also attended by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Lateef Fagbemi; and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amb. Jimoh Ibrahim, among other officials.
