The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has expressed optimism that the three Sahel countries- Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which recently withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) would soon return to the bloc.
This is as the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, said Nigeria and the ECOWAS Parliament were working together to fast-track the Abidjan-Lagos highway project, which is expected to create jobs, grow trade, and improve lives across West Africa.
The minister gave the assurance when he received Ibrahima, who led a delegation from the parliament on a courtesy visit to him in Abuja.
The visit was part of the parliament’s efforts to strengthen intergovernmental relations and democratic governance ahead of its 25th anniversary later in November.
“We will continue to work hard towards the success of ECOWAS and all member states, including the three recently withdrawn ones; we are encouraging them to come back.
“As we keep saying, we have not closed the door on their return. We are confident that they will return because they are part and parcel of the region; it is just a matter of time,” he said.
According to him, although the three countries have exited ECOWAS, Nigeria and other member countries would continue relating with them as neighbours and work together in certain areas for mutual benefits.
The minister urged the media to de-emphasise the issues of their unfortunate exit and instead focus attention on the subregion’s economic development.
He also admonished the media and other West African stakeholders to highlight the prevailing positive developmental projects in the remaining twelve member states.
Tuggar listed such projects including the West African Power Pool, ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation scheme, Abidjan-Lagos Corridor, and the Abidjan-Dakar Corridor, among others, that would enhance regional development.
He described the ECOWAS Parliament as an embodiment of the representation of the citizen.
Speaking earlier, Ibrahima told the minister that the delegation visited him to update him on the activities of the parliament over the last one and a half years, as well as its future activities.
She disclosed that the parliament, which was established in 2000, was preparing for its 25th anniversary as a regional legislature.
“We are working on how we can have some capability and enhancement so that we can have more legislative roles in the ECOWAS community.
“We are looking at how we can support ECOWAS in all their programmes and activities,” she said.
NAN also reported that Ibrahima was accompanied on the visit by the parliament’s Fourth Deputy Speaker, Billay Tunkara, and its Secretary General, Bertin Some, among others.
Meanwhile, Nigeria and the ECOWAS Parliament are working together to fast-track the Abidjan-Lagos highway project, which is expected to create jobs, grow trade, and improve lives across West Africa.
The 1,028-kilometre road will connect five countries and bring opportunities to millions living along the route.
Indications of this development emerged when the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Ibrahima, paid a visit to Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Tuggar in Abuja at the weekend to seek bilateral partnership with the Nigerian government to facilitate the project.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with the minister, Ibrahima, who was accompanied by the Fourth Deputy Speaker, Billay Tunkara; Secretary General, Mr. Bertin Some, among others, noted that the bilateral partnership with the Nigerian government is also to seek support for other projects being implemented by ECOWAS, especially on how they will benefit citizens of ECOWAS.
The 1,028-kilometre Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway is designed to cross through Ghana, Togo, and Benin and is expected to connect an urban population estimated to reach over 170 million people by 2050.
Michael Olugbode
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