- Highlights Milestones, Security Gains, and Nigeria’s Leadership Ahead of Golden Jubilee Celebrations
By Queen Kunde
In a high-profile media briefing ahead of the ECOWAS@50 celebrations, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, outlined the regional body’s achievements and strategic plans for deeper integration, peace, and prosperity across West Africa.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Tuggar expressed gratitude to the media for their sustained support and affirmed the significance of the upcoming Golden Jubilee of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). “This briefing is to give the media a clear picture of the preparations and the spirit of renewal that this anniversary brings,” he said.
According to the minister, the commemorative events will be held in two symbolic venues: the International Institute of Foreign Affairs where ECOWAS was first conceived and Eko Hotels, both in Lagos. “This is more than a celebration; it’s a revalidation of ECOWAS’s mission and a recognition of the Commission’s remarkable achievements,” he noted.
Tuggar pointed to several high-impact milestones, including the success of the ECOWAS Community Levy, which has become a global model for regional funding. He highlighted progress in standardizing critical sectors such as power, waterways, and health across member states.
He further applauded the development of key trade corridors like the Abidjan-Lagos and Abidjan-Dakar routes and hailed the free trade protocol (ETLS) as a cornerstone of regional economic integration.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, Tuggar said, ECOWAS has advanced significantly most notably with the landmark regional gas pipeline project connecting 15 countries. “Nigeria remains committed to providing leadership that strengthens ECOWAS and promotes unity,” he added.
Addressing questions from the press, the minister emphasized regional cooperation in security, particularly the formation of the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF). He also stressed the importance of protocol-driven relocation of ECOWAS institutions in countries within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), assuring that concrete actions are now underway.
Tuggar appealed to the media to spotlight ECOWAS’s successes and the promising future it holds for citizens. He also explained that the ECOWAS door remains open for reconciliation with countries that have exited the bloc, reaffirming that unity remains paramount.
“The ECOWAS Commission is focused on delivering more for our people, and the 50th anniversary is just the beginning of a new era,” he concluded.