STATEMENT FOR HIS EXCELLENCY SENATOR KASHIM SHETTIMA, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE FUTURE OF REGIONAL INTEGRATION IN WEST AFRICA

STATEMENT FOR HIS EXCELLENCY SENATOR KASHIM SHETTIMA, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE FUTURE OF REGIONAL INTEGRATION IN WEST AFRICA

DURING THE 69TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE AUTHORITY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF ECOWAS AND THE SUMMIT OF THE FUTURE

LUNGI, REPUBLIC OF SIERRAL LEONE
19TH JULY, 2026

Your Excellency, Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Julius Maada Bio;
Your Excellencies and Dear Colleagues, Heads of State and Government;
Your Excellency, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray;
Distinguished Special Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen;

On behalf of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Government and the good people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish to convey my profound appreciation to Your Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio, the Government and the people of the Republic of Sierra Leone for the warm hospitality extended to me and my delegation since our arrival, and for the excellent arrangements put in place for the successful convening of this Sixty-Ninth Ordinary Session of our Authority here in Lungi, Republic of Sierra Leone.

2. I also wish to congratulate Your Excellency on the successful commissioning of the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre, which stands as both a remarkable national achievement for the people of Sierra Leone and a lasting contribution to regional diplomacy. It is particularly fitting that this Session of our Authority is the first international gathering to be held in this impressive facility,. I am confident that this centre will serve as an enduring platform for consensus-building, and collective action in advancing peace, regional integration, and sustainable development across our Community.

3. Permit me to equally to commend President Julius Maada Bio for his exemplary stewardship of our Community over the past year. At a time of political transitions, evolving security challenges, economic pressures, and humanitarian concerns, his leadership has helped sustain our collective commitment to dialogue, solidarity, and regional cooperation. I also wish to express my sincere appreciation for the enduring spirit of unity and cooperation that continues to define our Community. Together, we must remain steadfast in advancing our shared vision of an ECOWAS of People, where the welfare, aspirations, and dignity of our citizens remain at the heart of our policies, programmes, and collective action.

Your Excellencies,

4. I wish to commend the ECOWAS Commission, as well as all the relevant stakeholders for the successful development of the ECOWAS Compact for the Future of Regional Integration. This forward-looking document reflects the collective aspirations of the peoples of West Africa. It further demonstrates the Commission’s strategic foresight in articulating a practical roadmap that responds to contemporary regional realities while remaining anchored in the founding principles of our Community.

5. Nigeria reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the Compact, which represents a significant milestone in our regional integration journey. It reflects the collective resolve of Member States to renew the ideals of ECOWAS, strengthen regional solidarity, and build a more resilient, prosperous, peaceful, and people-centred Community capable of meeting the aspirations of its over 400 million citizens. The Compact is fully aligned with the aspirations of ECOWAS Vision 2050 and provides a practical framework for advancing a more inclusive and fully integrated Community. Furthermore, it reinforces our shared commitment to rebuilding trust between citizens and public institutions, ensuring that regional integration remains resilient and relevant in the face of evolving geopolitical realities. By extending our collective vision towards 2075, we further advance our resolve to transit from an ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of the People.

6. As the largest economy and one of the key founding members of our Regional Economic Community, Nigeria remains steadfast in its historic responsibility to continue the promotion of regional unity, peace, economic integration, and democratic governance. Nigeria will continue to work closely with Member States and all stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the Compact and the realisation of its six strategic pillars.

7. Sustainable regional prosperity requires deeper economic integration, expanded trade, industrialisation, tourism, investment in regional value chains, improved infrastructure connectivity, and strengthened food security. Nigeria, therefore, welcomes the Compact’s ambition to expand intra-regional trade, enhance industrial competitiveness, support the gradual implementation of the ECO single currency, and accelerate the creation of an integrated regional economy capable of competing effectively in the global marketplace.

8. Nigeria remains committed to initiatives that remove trade barriers, improve cross-border infrastructure, facilitate the free movement of persons, goods, and services, and create an enabling environment for businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors to thrive across West Africa.

9. On peace, security, and democratic governance, Nigeria reaffirms that sustainable development cannot be achieved in an environment of insecurity and instability. Nigeria remains firmly committed to the principles enshrined in the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and other regional frameworks. Nigeria supports the Compact’s commitment to constitutional governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and zero tolerance for unconstitutional changes of government. I am to add that beyond adventurism, the most effective tool against Unconstitutional Changes of Government and mass protests that is capable of undermining good order is for us to enthrone good governance that delivers more tangible benefits to our citizens. We must also avoid the temptation to tamper with the constitutional term limits or exploit constitutional processes.

10. Also, Nigeria remains committed to the setting up of the Counter Terrorism Force, and strengthening of the ECOWAS Standby Force in order to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation, intelligence sharing, joint security operations, and preventive diplomacy to safeguard peace and stability across our region.

11. While recognising the central role of technology in shaping the future of nations, Nigeria welcomes the Compact’s emphasis on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. The establishment of a Digital Single Market, regional frameworks on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity cooperation, digital infrastructure, and innovation ecosystems will unlock new opportunities for economic diversification, entrepreneurship, education, financial inclusion, and job creation, particularly for young people, while accelerating inclusive growth and positioning West Africa as a competitive player in the global digital economy.

12. Nigeria commends the Compact’s strong focus on empowering women and youth, who represent the greatest human resource management of our region. Nigeria remains dedicated to advancing gender equality, expanding opportunities for women in leadership and decision-making, investing in education and skills development, supporting youth entrepreneurship, and ensuring that young people are active participants in shaping the future of West Africa.

13. On institutional reforms, Nigeria wishes to underscore that strong ECOWAS Institutions supported by sustainable financing, transparency, accountability, efficiency, and merit-based governance are essential to restoring public confidence and ensuring that the Community delivers tangible benefits to its citizens. We must, therefore, remain focused on strengthening our institutions, improving implementation capacity, and translating regional decisions into measurable outcomes that positively impact the lives of our peoples.
14. Nigeria recognises the evolving global geopolitical landscape and the Compact’s vision of ECOWAS as a more cohesive, influential, and strategically autonomous regional actor. In an increasingly multipolar world, West Africa must speak with one voice in advancing its collective interests, safeguarding its sovereignty, and building partnerships anchored on mutual respect, equality and shared prosperity.
15. We acknowledge that recent developments have tested the cohesion and resilience of our Community. Nigeria remains firmly committed to dialogue, solidarity and constructive engagement especially with the AES, as the foundation for preserving the unity, relevance, and future of ECOWAS. We must renew our collective determination to strengthen regional integration and ensure that our Community remains responsive to the aspirations and needs of our peoples.

16. I, therefore, call upon Member States, regional institutions, the private sector, civil society, development partners, women, and young people to support the effective implementation of the ECOWAS Compact for the Future of Regional Integration. The Compact provides a roadmap to strengthen regional unity, restore public trust, and build a more resilient and people-centred ECOWAS capable of effectively addressing current and future challenges. Through unity of purpose, visionary leadership, and sustained cooperation, we can build a stronger Community that delivers lasting peace, security, prosperity and sustainable development for all the peoples of West Africa.

17. On Afro-phobic attacks in South Africa, Nigeria condemns, in the strongest terms, the recent attacks on its citizens and other Africans in the Republic of South Africa. As already stated by His Excellency, the President of Ghana, ECOWAS should present a united voice in this condemnation and table the matter before the next session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the African Union. This would send a clear message that this type of intolerance is totally unacceptable under any guise. South Africa should be reminded that the freedom it currently enjoys is the result of the sacrifices and liberation efforts of African countries, including Nigeria. Nigerian Government has already evacuated over 1490 of its citizens from harm’s way in seven batches and is prepared to engage further on this matter.

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

18. As we enter this new phase of our regional integration journey, let us reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the successful implementation of the Compact.

19. I wish to reiterate that Nigeria will continue to provide principled leadership and work with all Member States to advance our shared vision of a peaceful, integrated, prosperous, secure and globally respected West Africa, in line with our aspirations.

20. Long live ECOWAS! Long live West Africa! Long live African Unity!
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