The 93rd Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers has commenced in Abuja, with discussions centered on strengthening regional cooperation, fostering economic integration, and addressing pressing security concerns.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, is presiding over the two-day session, which has brought together leaders and policymakers from across the region.
In his opening remarks, ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, commended Nigeria for hosting the session and highlighted ongoing energy projects, including the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline and renewable energy initiatives, aimed at enhancing energy access and sustainability across the region.
One of the session’s focal points is boosting intra-regional trade, which currently stands at just 12-13%. Ministers deliberated on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and regional investment codes designed to remove trade barriers and stimulate economic growth.
Plans to harmonize air transport charges and cut fees by 25% were also presented, alongside the “Rice Offensive” initiative, which seeks to achieve regional self-sufficiency in rice production by 2035.
Addressing security challenges, the ministers examined strategies to combat terrorism and drug trafficking, which continue to threaten stability in the region. Dr. Touray expressed concern over the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS but reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to restoring unity and collaboration.
Additionally, the session addressed the declining remittance of Community Levy contributions, with member states urged to increase their financial commitments to ECOWAS’s goals.
Leaders expressed optimism about the deliberations, emphasizing the importance of collective action to achieve the region’s developmental objectives.
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