As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) marks its 50th anniversary, Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, has reaffirmed that the door remains open for Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to rejoin the regional bloc.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, Tuggar reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to regional integration, peacebuilding, and economic cooperation, despite recent challenges.
He noted that the milestone anniversary, set to be celebrated on May 28 in Lagos, provides a moment to both reflect on ECOWAS’s achievements and confront the pressing realities threatening its cohesion.
Read also: Tinubu to attend ECOWAS at 50 celebration in Lagos
The golden jubilee celebration will be attended by Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s former Head of State, the last surviving founding father of ECOWAS, sn appearance Tuggar described as a powerful reminder of the vision that birthed the community in 1975.
However, the celebration comes amid deepening concerns over the future of the bloc following the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger on January 29, 2025.
The three Sahel nations, currently under military rule, exited ECOWAS, citing discontent over perceived foreign interference, particularly by France and a preference for regional autonomy under their newly formed Alliance of Sahel States.
Despite the setback, Tuggar insisted that all hope is not lost.
He revealed that ECOWAS has left the door ajar for a potential return, depending on changes in leadership or evolving political circumstances.
“It is not a closed chapter..ECOWAS continues to offer a path back”, he said.
The minister also clarified that the relocation of ECOWAS institutions from the withdrawing countries, including the West African Health Organisation, was a procedural necessity rather than a punitive action.
Hosting rights, he explained, are tied to active membership under ECOWAS rules.
Read also: Fifty years on, ECOWAS grapples with crisis, regional instability
While the withdrawals have cast a shadow over the 50th anniversary, Tuggar was emphatic that the regional bloc still has much to celebrate.
He highlighted decades of progress, including the successful implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, common external tariffs, and the ECOWAS Community Levy, which has ensured financial sustainability.
Tuggar also pointed to achievements in harmonising regulatory frameworks across sectors such as energy, water, and health, steps that have improved governance and service delivery.
‘Major infrastructure projects, like the Abidjan-Lagos and Abidjan-Dakar corridors, continue to advance, with Nigeria playing a central diplomatic and financial role, he added.
Looking ahead, the Minister said key initiatives such as the long-anticipated single ECOWAS currency remain on the agenda, although no country has yet met the convergence criteria.
He also mentioned the regional gas pipeline from Nigeria to Morocco as a strategic project that would eventually connect to European markets.
Read also: Gowon, Akinyemi optimistic about Sahel nations’ return to ECOWAS
On security, Tuggar acknowledged rising instability in the region, fueled in part by the influx of arms following the collapse of Libya.
He said ECOWAS is actively responding through coordinated security frameworks, including a standby force meant to tackle cross-border threats.
Reiterating Nigeria’s leadership role in the bloc, Tuggar stressed that President Bola Tinubu remains fully committed to ECOWAS’s reform and development agenda.
“Nigeria is both a pillar and a driver of ECOWAS,” he said, urging member states to recommit to the shared vision that inspired its founding.
