The Council of Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States held its 93rd ordinary session on Thursday at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting was chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.
The session focused on pressing issues in governance, economic policies, and regional integration, with a special emphasis on trade, security, and stability in West Africa.
In his opening remarks, ECOWAS President Omar Touray praised Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and the people of Nigeria for their continuous support of the regional bloc.
The ECOWAS President revealed that the ministers would examine 30 specific agendas, including trade, security, agriculture, and the overall stability of the region.
Touray also expressed concern over declining financial contributions from member states, noting that only 40% of community remittances have been received in the past six years. He urged member states to recommit to the principles and values of ECOWAS to foster unity and progress.
Despite these challenges, Touray commended the successful and peaceful elections held this year in Liberia, Senegal, Togo, and Ghana. He described these democratic processes as critical to the region’s stability and development.
The meeting aims to provide actionable solutions to strengthen economic and security frameworks while addressing critical regional concerns. Members of the ECOWAS Council are expected to deliberate extensively on these issues and agree on measures to enhance collaboration among member states.
