Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the new leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission to prioritise regional unity and integration to accelerate development across West Africa….
Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the new leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission to prioritise regional unity and integration to accelerate development across West Africa.
Shettima made the call on Friday in New York, United States, when he received a delegation from the ECOWAS Commission led by its new President, General Birame Diop (rtd), on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The Vice President said the commission should focus on building bridges of friendship among member states and promoting policies that improve the lives and livelihoods of people across the sub-region.
“Beyond your administrative duties, your leadership of the commission must make deliberate efforts to build bridges of friendship across the sub-region.”
He also urged the new leadership to strengthen ECOWAS’ engagement with emerging regional blocs, including the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
“I urge ECOWAS under your leadership to champion the cause of regional integration and strengthen the bonds of unity and friendship among our people,” Shettima said.
The Vice President also called for greater private-sector participation in the implementation of the Lagos-Abidjan highway project.
He congratulated Diop on his election, noting that he assumed leadership of the commission at a challenging period that requires greater cooperation and cohesion among leaders and citizens of the sub-region.
Shettima assured the ECOWAS president of Nigeria’s continued support, saying President Bola Tinubu would support efforts to strengthen the regional organisation.
“My boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a man of honour and conviction who will always support efforts aimed at advancing the transformation of ECOWAS as a regional body, and the progress of the area in general.”
Earlier, Diop commended Nigeria for its role in the establishment and sustenance of ECOWAS, as well as its contributions to regional stability and prosperity.
He said insecurity and slow development had created challenges requiring Nigeria’s intervention as the region’s “big brother”.
Diop described ECOWAS as an important instrument for regional stability and called on member states to cooperate with Nigeria to promote inclusive development and a better future for West Africans.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Jimoh Ibrahim, and senior officials of the ECOWAS Commission.
