Nigeria and the Republic of Benin on Saturday signed a bilateral agreement aimed at deepening integration and strengthening regional cooperation within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The agreement was signed during the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja, and was witnessed by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Beninese counterpart, President Patrice Talon.
Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while Benin was represented by its Minister of Industry and Trade, Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Shegun Adjadi Bakari.
President Talon described the agreement as a significant step toward actualising real and practical integration. “Benin and Nigeria are more than twins—we are the same people. Let us show the region that integration is not just possible but achievable,” he said.
He also called for urgent reforms to revitalise ECOWAS, which he said is currently facing a crisis. Citing the West African Gas Pipeline and West African Power Pool as failed regional initiatives, Talon noted that delays and bureaucratic challenges have undermined their purpose. “We are sourcing gas from Qatar now because regional projects meant to serve this purpose have not been effective,” he said.
Talon also decried the state of road transport along the Lagos–Abidjan corridor, stressing that unnecessary border harassment remains a major obstacle to trade. “The road exists, but it should not take days to move from Lagos to Abidjan,” he said.
On poverty and security, the Beninese leader warned that economic hardship is the most dangerous threat to regional peace and democratic values.
“If we don’t tackle poverty through meaningful integration, everything else—our values, democracy, and security—will be undermined,” he added.
Referencing global trade developments, Talon urged African leaders to prioritise their nations’ interests. “The trade war should remind us that nations act in their own interest, and so should we,” he said, making a veiled reference to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s protectionist economic policies.
Delivering his national address, Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio emphasised the need to unlock West Africa’s economic potential in the face of rising debt, food insecurity, and climate change.
He called for stronger participation in initiatives such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the Common External Tariff.
President Bio also reaffirmed support for the proposed single regional currency, stating: “A single currency would reduce exchange costs, stabilise prices, and foster a more competitive economic environment.”
Liberian President Joseph Boakai echoed similar sentiments, reaffirming his country’s commitment to ECOWAS and regional blocs such as the Mano River Union.
He praised President Tinubu for convening what he described as “a timely and strategic summit,” noting that while regional challenges are complex, “they are not insurmountable.”
The summit featured recorded video messages from UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and WTO Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, both of whom underscored the importance of regional cooperation in achieving sustainable development across West Africa.
The summit precedes the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, scheduled for Sunday, June 22, 2025, at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
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