Nigeria asks ECOWAS to reopen dialogue with Sahel bloc

Nigeria has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to step up diplomatic engagement with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, saying the countries remain part of the region’s shared family despite their withdrawal from the bloc.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja while representing President Bola Tinubu at the handover ceremony for outgoing and incoming statutory officials of ECOWAS institutions.

In a statement issued by Raphael Oni, Special Assistant on Digital Media and Public Diplomacy in the Office of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria remained committed to strengthening regional integration and stability.

He identified peace and security as essential to achieving meaningful economic integration in West Africa and urged the new ECOWAS leadership to deepen dialogue with the three countries now operating under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

According to him, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger should be regarded as “brothers and sisters” with whom the rest of the region shares common challenges, interests and aspirations.

The minister urged the incoming leadership to uphold the founding vision of ECOWAS as a united, peaceful, prosperous and integrated West African community.

He also tasked the new management with accelerating the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2050, which seeks to build “The ECOWAS of Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All.”

Enikanolaiye said the bloc should give greater attention to initiatives capable of directly improving the lives of its citizens, including free movement of people, increased intra-regional trade and investment and infrastructure development.

He also listed food and energy security, employment generation, as well as programmes targeting young people and women, among the priorities requiring stronger regional action.

Beyond integration and development, the minister urged ECOWAS institutions to strengthen financial discipline and accountability.

He called for prudent management of the organisation’s resources, saying member states should see tangible value from their contributions through the Community Levy.

“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.

Enikanolaiye commended the outgoing President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia, alongside the commissioners and heads of other ECOWAS institutions, for their contributions to the organisation.

He congratulated the incoming leadership and urged the new officials to approach their responsibilities with vision, integrity, efficiency and a commitment to serving citizens across the region.

The new President of the ECOWAS Commission, General Birame Diop, assumed office following his appointment by the Authority of Heads of State and Government at its 69th Ordinary Summit in Sierra Leone.

His tenure comes as ECOWAS continues to navigate the political and security consequences of the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the regional bloc and the emergence of the AES as an alternative regional alliance.