President Bola Tinubu has called on ECOWAS leaders to strengthen regional unity, tackle insecurity and uphold democratic governance, as the bloc unveiled the Compact for the Future of Regional Integration.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Tinubu addressed the issue of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, urging African leaders to speak with one voice, saying such intolerance is “absolutely not acceptable under any form”.
He added that Nigeria had evacuated over 1,490 citizens from affected areas in seven batches and remained prepared to engage further on the matter.
The President said the ECOWAS Compact would “strengthen regional solidarity and build a more resilient, prosperous, peaceful and people-centred Community” capable of meeting the aspirations of over 400 million citizens.
Tinubu urged member states to intensify collective efforts against insecurity and unconstitutional governance, stressing that “sustainable development cannot be achieved in an environment of insecurity and instability”.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation, intelligence sharing and regional security operations, saying the initiatives would help “safeguard peace and stability across our region.”
On economic integration, the President said Nigeria supports efforts to remove trade barriers, improve cross-border infrastructure and promote the free movement of people, goods and services across West Africa.
He also highlighted the importance of technology and innovation, noting that digital transformation, cybersecurity cooperation and artificial intelligence frameworks would create opportunities for economic diversification, entrepreneurship and job creation, particularly for young people.
