President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the new ECOWAS Commission management team led by Dr. Omar Alieu Toure to complete the review and harmonisation of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the sub-regional body.
He also raised concern over the threat of unconstitutional change of governments to democratic governance in ECOWAS member states.
President Buhari stated this in his welcome address Sunday in Abuja, during the 62nd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Buhari said: “The Commission must, therefore, work assiduously to complete the review and harmonisation of the Protocols on Good Governance and Democracy, as this would enable our sub-region to sustain our collective efforts to deepen not only Democracy but her dividends through good governance to the Community citizens.
“Related to this is the urgent need to fully bring into operation, the Regional Action Plan on the Fight Against Terrorism and other acts of criminality in the sub- region as enhanced safety will sustain national governance efforts that would ensure the growth and progress of our sub- region,” President Buhari said.
Welcoming fellow regional leaders, President Buhari said this year’s Summit was the 8th that Nigeria, under his leadership, had hosted:
“All of those occasions, including this one, have brought honour and respect to my country as Nigeria continues to be at the centre of sustained solidarity and collaborative efforts to maximise our relationships in order to address common challenges to our countries and the Community’s citizens,” he said.
President Buhari paid glowing tribute to President Kuffour Addo-Nana of Ghana, the immediate past Chairperson of the Authority for his services and congratulated President Umaro Embalo of Guinea Bissau on assuming the leadership of the sub-regional organisation.
He expressed confidence in Embalo’s ability to “discharge his responsibilities to the sub-region, as well as meet the expectations of the Community citizens.”
The Nigerian leader thanked fellow leaders for the support he received as the Regional Champion on COVID–19 at a time the pandemic ravaged the entire world, saying the successes recorded in the region was to their credit.
“Let me specifically thank you, brother Heads of State and Government, for the confidence you reposed in me to be the Regional Champion on COVID-19, an opportunity that brought me to working closely with sectoral Ministers, ECOWAS Commission as well as the West Africa Health Organisation to develop regional mechanisms that mitigated the effects of the COVID-19.
“Without doubt, the commitment shown by Member-States yielded very positive results as West Africa emerged as one of the regions with the least mortality rate, not only on the continent, but globally,” he declared.
On democracy, he said despite the efforts of ECOWAS leaders towards deepening the system of government, the region suffered some unpleasant setbacks:
“Regrettably, some of our gains, especially in fully democratising our governance space have faced and continue to face severe challenging threats from unconstitutional change of government as witnessed in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea,” Buhari said.
Earlier at the official groundbreaking ceremony of the new ECOWAS Headquarters Building, President Buhari had expressed his appreciation to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, “for their financial and technical contribution to ensuring that a monument of this nature is built on behalf of our region.”
The building, to be named the EYE OF WEST AFRICA, with an expected completion period of Twenty-Six months, would house the three major ECOWAS Institutions, namely the ECOWAS Commission, the Community Court of Justice and the Parliament.
“We have waited for this day, since 10th of July, 2019, when ECOWAS and the People’s Republic of China signed an implementation agreement for this diplomatic gift to the West African States.
“The new complex would represent the unity and brotherhood of the Member-States, as well as signify a re-commitment to progress and regional integration. It will be our home and a regional rallying point,” he said.
Speaking at the groundbreaking event, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Cui Jianchun, said: “To sponsor and construct the new ECOWAS Headquarters is a vivid reflection of China’s support to the work of ECOWAS as well as the traditional friendship between China and the West African countries.
“We will continue to promote the common development of China and Africa, and are ready to make new contribution to the building of the China-Africa community with shared future in the new era.”
The envoy lauded Nigeria’s leadership role in regional and ECOWAS affairs through its restless efforts to maintain regional stability and catalyse region integration.
