Tuggar Urges Media to Focus on Regional Growth, Not AES Exit from ECOWAS
— Says Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger May Rejoin Soon
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has called on West African media professionals to shift focus away from the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and instead concentrate on the region’s economic and developmental prospects.
Tuggar made the call on Friday while hosting the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, and her delegation at his office in Abuja. The visit formed part of bilateral engagements aimed at strengthening democratic governance in West Africa, ahead of the ECOWAS Parliament’s 25th anniversary in November.
According to the Minister, media attention should be directed at the progress of the remaining 12 member states and the implementation of key development initiatives such as the West African Power Pool, ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme, and regional infrastructure projects like the Abidjan–Lagos and Abidjan–Dakar corridors.
“The ECOWAS Parliament represents the voice and will of the people of West Africa. It stands as a symbol of our shared commitment to constitutional order and democratic governance,” Tuggar stated.
On the issue of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) exit—comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—Tuggar expressed optimism that the trio, which left the bloc in the wake of military takeovers and disagreements with ECOWAS, would eventually return.
“We have not closed the door on their return. We believe their exit is temporary and that they will come back to the fold, because they are an integral part of our region. It is just a matter of time,” he said.
Despite their withdrawal, the Minister emphasized that Nigeria and other ECOWAS nations will continue to collaborate with the three countries on areas of mutual interest, especially given their geographical and socio-economic ties.
Speaker Ibrahima, who was accompanied by the Fourth Deputy Speaker, Hon. Billay Tunkara, and Secretary General, Mr. Bertin Some, said the visit was also to brief the Minister on the Parliament’s activities over the last 18 months and to discuss future programmes.
She noted that as ECOWAS marked its 50th anniversary on May 28, attention must also turn to enhancing the role of the regional legislature, which is preparing to celebrate its own silver jubilee in 2025.
“We are looking at strengthening the legislative capacity of the ECOWAS Parliament to contribute more meaningfully to the development agenda of the community,” the Togolese Speaker said.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting democratic values, economic cooperation, and regional unity across West Africa.
Source: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso
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