On Sunday, President Bola Tinubu brought his tenure to an end as the Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
As a result of this transition, President Julius Bio of Sierra Leone has been appointed as his successor.
Tinubu disclosed this development during the 67th Ordinary Session of the Authority held at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
He said, “It has been a profound honour and privilege to lead this esteemed body, and I remain deeply humbled by the trust and support you have extended to me throughout my channel as I now hand over the mantle of leadership to my great friend and dear brother, His Excellency, President Julius Bio of Sierra Leone.”
“I do so with a deep sense of fulfilment and of commitment for the future of West Africa.”
Prior to handing over, Tinubu voiced his concern about the sluggish progress in operationalising the ECOWAS Standby Force. He called on West African leaders to urgently shift from mere planning to concrete action in the joint effort to combat terrorism and transnational crimes.
“I am a little bit worried about the slow pace of its (ECOWAS Standby Force) activation, which is taking longer than desired,” the President said in his opening speech.
President Tinubu advocated for the establishment of a regional standby force and a counter-terrorism centre to combat terrorism in Africa’s most volatile regions in April 2024.
He described the counter-terrorism centre as a hub for intelligence sharing, operational coordination, and capacity building across the continent. Tinubu highlighted ransom-taking and illegal mining as “evil branches” fueled by underlying issues like poverty, inequality, and social injustice, which sustain terrorist networks throughout Africa.
“Key to our collective efforts against terrorism is the urgent need for a fully operational Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre,” Tinubu stated at the African High-level Meeting on Counter-Terrorism in Abuja on April 22, 2024.
Two months later, at the sixth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union in Ghana, he noted that ECOWAS was seeking alternative funding sources for its $2.6 billion Standby Force. In August 2024, he reiterated the commitment of member states to finance the force, presenting it as a critical response to terrorism in the Sahel.
However, a year later, reflecting on his two-year tenure as ECOWAS chairman since July 2023, Tinubu voiced frustration over the slow progress of the initiative, as security challenges in the Sahel continued to escalate.
He emphasized the critical need to activate the force swiftly due to the rising insecurity throughout the sub-region.
“The ECOWAS Standby Force must move from concept to operational reality. I am a little bit worried about the slow pace of its activation, which is taking longer than desired,” the President said.
He pointed out that the threats facing the region were transnational, fueled by dynamic and dangerous networks that disregarded national borders.
“No single nation can, therefore, address these challenges alone. We must strengthen coordination, amplify political will, and prioritise a collective approach to secure it,” he added.
Tinubu outlined key achievements during his tenure as leader of the regional bloc. He noted that the newly completed ECOWAS Military Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, would be vital in supplying equipment and logistics to ECOWAS-deployed forces.
“Last February in Addis Ababa, Nigeria signed the Sixth Agreement with the African Union. With the depot’s completion, Nigeria is committing itself to sea-lift and air-lift arrangements with ECOWAS,” he said.
Tinubu expressed optimism that the current diplomatic efforts with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger would eventually result in their reintegration into the regional bloc.
“Under my chairmanship, I deployed all diplomatic means to engage and dialogue with our brothers in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. I am confident that before too long, they may return to the family,” he said.
The Nigerian President emphasized the need to enhance economic collaboration, strengthen the private sector, and eliminate trade obstacles to fully harness West Africa’s potential.
“Our intra-regional trade remains low, even as we possess the potential to be an economic powerhouse. We must create the enabling environment, empower the private sector, and create the conditions necessary for innovation to flourish,” he said.
He also advocated for the prompt execution of vital regional infrastructure initiatives, such as the West African Gas Pipeline, West African Power Pool, and Abidjan–Lagos Corridor Highway, describing them as essential for growth and integration.
After taking over leadership, President Bio praised Tinubu for setting a strong foundation in regional engagement, economic revitalization, and peace efforts.
“I am humbled to build upon the strong foundation you have established,” he said
Recognizing the challenges of the present situation, the Sierra Leonean president observed that West Africa faced a critical juncture, contending with terrorism, illegal arms trafficking, political unrest, and cross-border crime, especially in the Sahel and coastal areas.
“The democratic space is under strain in parts of our region. In some countries, the constitutional order has been disrupted.
“Yet, across West Africa, citizens—especially our youth—are demanding not just elections, but also accountability, transparency, and a fair stake in national life,” he said.
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