Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to ECOWAS as New Leadership Takes Over

Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as a new team of statutory appointees assumes responsibility for the leadership of the regional bloc.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the commitment on Monday in Abuja at the handover ceremony for outgoing and incoming statutory appointees of ECOWAS institutions.

Enikanolaiye, who spoke as the host minister, conveyed the greetings and best wishes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and described the leadership 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 incoming leadership to remain committed to the vision of the bloc’s founding fathers, which is to build a united, peaceful, prosperous and integrated West Africa.

The minister also called for the development of an “ECOWAS of citizens and not of governments,” stressing that the regional organisation must remain focused on improving the lives and welfare of citizens across member states.

He 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, the vision should be pursued through stronger free movement of people, increased intra-regional trade and investment, improved infrastructure, food and energy security, as well as greater empowerment of women and young people and the creation of jobs.

Enikanolaiye further emphasised the need for financial probity, accountability, cost-effectiveness and prudent management of the resources of the Community.

He noted that ECOWAS must ensure that the substantial investments made by Nigeria and other member states through the Community Levy translate into tangible benefits for citizens.

The minister also identified peace and security as critical foundations for achieving meaningful economic integration in West Africa.

He called for intensified engagement with countries under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), describing them as brothers and sisters with shared challenges and common aspirations.

“Nigeria remains committed to working constructively with the new leadership and all Member States towards a stronger, more integrated and people-centred ECOWAS,” Enikanolaiye said.

New ECOWAS Commission President Assumes Office

The new President of the ECOWAS Commission, General Birame Diop, has formally assumed office, succeeding Dr. Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia, whose four-year tenure has ended.

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.

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 has also assumed office as the new Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, while new commissioners have been appointed across the regional institution.

The Abuja ceremony brought together the Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, H.E. Cheikh Niang; members of the Permanent Representatives Committee; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the ECOWAS Business Council; officials and staff of ECOWAS institutions; and members of the press.

The leadership transition comes at a critical period for the regional bloc, with ECOWAS facing the challenge of deepening regional integration while addressing security concerns and maintaining engagement with countries that have withdrawn from the organisation.