ECOWAS Ministers Convened it’s 94th Session, Reaffirm Commitment to Regional Integration, Peace ,Unity and Renewed Future.
By Raymond Enoch
The 94th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers opened today in Abuja, Nigeria with a clarion call for unity, economic transformation, and strategic cooperation to address the multifaceted challenges facing the West African region.
The two-day meeting, running from June 19 to 20, gathers Foreign Affairs Ministers of Member States to deliberate on more than 20 key policy documents, with an emphasis on regional trade, financial sustainability, and political stability.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, emphasized the Commission’s ongoing drive for deeper regional integration and trade liberalization. He presented a bold vision for breaking down non-tariff barriers (NTBs), calling them a “perennial obstacle” to regional trade, industrialization, and growth.
“Despite numerous initiatives, NTBs continue to hamper the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the broader goals of AfCFTA,” Dr. Touray said. Recalling a personal fact-finding trip from Lagos to Cotonou, he highlighted the bottlenecks at the Seme/Krake border, reinforcing the need for urgent reforms.
He further outlined the Council’s agenda, which includes the ratification of international trade agreements, harmonization of regional standards through ECOSHAM, and regional responses to emerging global trade policies such as the new U.S. tariff regime.
On security, Dr. Touray noted progress in dialogue with transitional governments in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Guinea. “We are rebuilding trust and creating a collective framework to tackle terrorism and ensure political stability,” he said.
Speaking as the Chair of the Council and Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar delivered a passionate keynote that framed ECOWAS as a tool for economic decolonization, not just a bureaucratic institution.
“Our forebears created ECOWAS to escape the economic traps of neo-colonialism,” Ambassador Tuggar stated. “Staying isolated means dependence on former colonial masters. But through joint infrastructure, trade, and industry, we can define our future.”
He stressed the importance of maintaining focus on ECOWAS’ founding ideals, especially with the region’s large youth population depending on bold, future-focused policies.
Ambassador Tuggar also previewed the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES), set to begin on June 20 in Abuja. The summit will unite policymakers, investors, startups, and creative industry leaders in a drive to unlock the region’s private sector potential. “WAES will be a landmark event,” he said, encouraging ministers to expedite deliberations and attend the launch.
The opening ceremony concluded with the swearing-in of Mr. Charles NDIAYE as a new member of the ERERA Regulatory Council before the President of the Community Court of Justice — a symbolic gesture affirming ECOWAS’ commitment to institutional integrity and regional energy regulation.
As the session continues into June 20, expectations are high that the Council will not only reflect on critical reports — including the 2025 interim state of the Community and Community Levy compliance — but also adopt actionable outcomes that steer the region toward peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.
