Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has intensified calls for deeper economic integration and private sector engagement within ECOWAS. Speaking at the 94th Council of Ministers meeting in Abuja. Tuggar urged West African governments to prioritize intra-regional trade, industrial cooperation, and policy harmonization to reduce reliance on former colonial powers .
The minister emphasized that, despite vast natural and human resources, West Africa still exports raw materials and imports finished goods—a legacy of colonial economic patterns. In 2024, the region exported goods worth over $166 billion, but only 8.6% of that trade occurred within ECOWAS, he noted . “If you remain isolated from your neighbours, you consign yourself to being a perpetual exporter of raw materials and agricultural produce to the metropolis,” Tuggar warned .
Tuggar, who chairs the ECOWAS Council, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment as hosts of the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES), convened in Abuja from June 20–21. The summit gathered heads of state, ministers, investors, and private-sector leaders to explore plans for trade liberalization, infrastructure development, transport corridors, and energy sector integration .
Over 400 million residents inhabit ECOWAS member states, yet intra-regional trade lags behind regions like the EU, which achieves often more than 60% of total trade internally. Tuggar criticised this disparity as “a lack of potential, but issues like poor coordination, weak infrastructure, and limited political will” . Ministers also addressed systemic barriers—non-tariff obstacles and fragmented inspection regimes—calling for harmonized competition and consumer-protection frameworks to ease trade .
Commission President Omar Touray disclosed that member states are also advancing regulatory instruments related to competition, consumer protection, and mutual recognition of inspection certificates. He confirmed efforts to ratify measures like the WTO’s fisheries subsidy agreement, ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, and the West Africa–EU Economic Partnership Agreement .
Tuggar commented, “We are here to build on what we have and find new ways that add momentum, peace, research, stability, prosperity, and growth” .
Touray added: “Non-tariff barriers have become a perennial obstacle to boosting regional trade…We must do everything to put an end to this and facilitate economic exchange across the region”
Enhanced trade integration could significantly boost local manufacturing, create high-value jobs, and stabilize prices through improved supply chains. Public-private partnerships are pivotal, according to Tuggar, who advocated harnessing the youthful, dynamic population to further Africa’s continental free trade agenda .
Looking ahead, outcomes from WAES and the 94th Council are expected to influence upcoming Heads-of-State protocols—defining future trade corridors, transport infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks. Effective follow-up and state-level implementation will determine whether ECOWAS transforms policy into tangible socioeconomic integration.
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