The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) recorded notable economic, social and institutional achievements in 2025 despite global uncertainties and persistent regional security challenges, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, has said.
Speaking at a meeting with development partners on Thursday, Touray disclosed that the regional economy grew by 4.6 per cent in 2025, up from 4.3 per cent in 2024, with projections of 5.0 per cent growth in 2026. He attributed the improved performance to structural reforms, stronger fiscal discipline and measures to strengthen key sectors such as extractive industries and trade.
According to him, regional inflation declined from 24.4 per cent in 2024 to 16.8 per cent in 2025, supported by coordinated monetary and fiscal policies across member states. He added that budget management improved, with the regional fiscal deficit narrowing to 3.1 per cent of GDP, while the debt-to-GDP ratio fell slightly to 45.7 per cent.
Touray noted that current account balances remained positive, driven largely by export surpluses from Nigeria, Ghana and Guinea.
On political and security matters, he said ECOWAS strengthened peacekeeping and preventive diplomacy efforts across the region. He disclosed that missions in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau were assessed to improve training, monitoring and exit strategies, while counter-terrorism initiatives intensified through enhanced intelligence sharing and specialised training programmes. Arms control efforts also advanced with the donation of weapons-marking machines to four member states.
On economic integration, Touray said ECOWAS continued to consolidate its free trade area, customs union and common market initiatives. Measures to facilitate cross-border trade included support for women and youth entrepreneurs, the rollout of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card in six countries and the deployment of digital platforms to track trade compliance. The bloc also participated in major trade fairs, including the Intra-African Trade Fair in Algeria and the inaugural ECOWAS Trade and Investment Forum in Lagos.
He reported progress in energy, transport and digital infrastructure, including clean energy certification programmes, preparations for a second submarine broadband cable, improved regional road standards, aviation safety capacity and internet interconnection hubs.
Touray said ECOWAS also strengthened agricultural governance, climate-smart practices and food security programmes, reaching millions of beneficiaries through improved farming technologies, school feeding schemes and livestock development projects. Climate resilience partnerships and sustainable resource management initiatives were also expanded.
Through the West Africa Health Organization, he said ECOWAS enhanced epidemic preparedness and laboratory capacity, while humanitarian interventions focused on vulnerable populations, including women treated for fistula and youth employability programmes. Initiatives on gender equality, women’s empowerment and anti-trafficking were implemented across several member states.
Internally, Touray said the Commission strengthened governance, financial management and staff capacity development, adding that the ECOWAS Court of Justice held 79 sessions in 2025 and expanded public outreach to improve access to justice.
He added that partnerships with international organisations, including the United Nations, European Union, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and African Development Bank, supported regional development projects in transport, agriculture, energy and digital transformation.
Touray said the achievements position ECOWAS to advance regional integration, economic growth and stability despite ongoing challenges such as geopolitical tensions, security threats and the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Community.
By Michael Olugbode in Abuja
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