Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, as new statutory appointees of the regional bloc formally assumed office in Abuja.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the commitment during the handover ceremony for outgoing and incoming heads of ECOWAS institutions.
Enikanolaiye, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the event, described the transition as a demonstration of continuity in the regional integration efforts that have defined ECOWAS for more than five decades.
He urged the new leadership to pursue the vision of a united, peaceful and prosperous West Africa while promoting an ECOWAS that prioritises its citizens.
The Minister called for the effective implementation of the ECOWAS Vision 2050, with emphasis on free movement, intra-regional trade, infrastructure development, food and energy security, youth and women empowerment, and job creation.
He also stressed the need for financial discipline, accountability and prudent management of the organisation’s resources, noting that member states must see value from their contributions through the Community Levy.
On regional security, Enikanolaiye called for stronger engagement with the Alliance of Sahel States, AES, describing its members as brothers and sisters facing common challenges.
The new President of the ECOWAS Commission, General Birame Diop, has assumed office, succeeding Dr. Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia after his four-year tenure.
Diop, a former Senegalese Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Senegalese Armed Forces, pledged to provide strategic leadership towards deeper regional integration, peace and security, economic cooperation and institutional effectiveness.
Nigeria’s Anthony Ogunjimi is the new Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, while new commissioners have also been appointed.