The ECOWAS Parliament has adopted sweeping recommendations to dismantle bureaucratic and regulatory obstacles hindering trade across West Africa, calling for harmonised customs procedures, the elimination of non-tariff barriers and expanded financing for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The resolutions were adopted at the conclusion of a week-long delocalised joint committee meeting in Cotonou, Benin Republic, marking one of the regional legislature’s most comprehensive efforts in recent years to accelerate economic integration and strengthen intra-regional commerce.
The Parliament noted that inconsistent customs procedures, multiple taxation, cumbersome import regulations, inadequate infrastructure and the harassment of traders continue to undermine the ECOWAS vision of a seamless regional market, nearly five decades after the bloc’s establishment.
Presenting the resolutions on Friday, Co-Chairman of the Joint Committee, Alhagie Darbo, urged member states to urgently harmonise customs procedures, import regulations, taxation policies and business registration requirements to create a predictable and investor-friendly business environment capable of driving industrialisation, investment and job creation across the sub-region.
He said the Parliament also called for the full implementation of ECOWAS trade and investment protocols, the removal of non-tariff barriers, increased investment in trade-supporting infrastructure and stronger national monitoring mechanisms to improve the ease of doing business.
The lawmakers further recommended legal, regulatory and fiscal reforms to encourage entrepreneurship, facilitate the transition of informal businesses into the formal economy, promote local value addition and improve the competitiveness of MSMEs.
Responding to widespread complaints from traders, the Parliament advocated transparent management of market facilities, accessible tenancy agreements, a review of restrictive trading practices and decisive action against extortion and unlawful harassment of traders.
To address the persistent financing gap facing small businesses, the regional legislature urged member states to expand financial inclusion programmes and provide affordable credit, particularly for women-owned and youth-led enterprises, to enhance their participation in regional value chains.
The Parliament also directed the ECOWAS Commission to strengthen implementation of the ECOWAS MSME Development Policy (2021–2030) through enterprise support centres, business development services, entrepreneurship programmes and digital skills initiatives.
In addition, lawmakers called for the establishment of export support centres along major trade corridors and strategic border posts to guide exporters, simplify compliance with trade regulations and reduce administrative delays that continue to impede cross-border commerce.
The Parliament further advocated accelerated harmonisation of product standards, certification processes and quality assurance systems across the region to facilitate easier movement of goods within ECOWAS and improve access to continental markets.
It also called for stronger implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) through simplified procedures, greater awareness among businesses, improved transparency and the complete elimination of non-tariff barriers.
To reduce dependence on imports from outside Africa, the lawmakers urged member states to adopt policies encouraging industries to source semi-processed raw materials and intermediate products within the region, while supporting inclusive industrial and agricultural clusters capable of boosting productivity, attracting investment and strengthening regional competitiveness.
The Parliament also tasked the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) with expanding access to affordable financing through innovative instruments, including credit guarantee schemes, concessional lending windows and risk-sharing mechanisms targeted at MSMEs, particularly those owned by women and young entrepreneurs.
Beyond financial support, EBID was urged to increase investment in regional industrial and agricultural clusters to enable producers to expand capacity and integrate more effectively into regional markets.
The lawmakers pledged to intensify parliamentary oversight of member states’ compliance with ECOWAS trade, industrialisation and MSME development frameworks, while forwarding the resolutions to relevant regional institutions and sustaining advocacy for their implementation at the national level.
Speaking after the meeting, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Small and Medium Enterprises and member of the ECOWAS Parliament, Pascal Agbodike, said Nigerian legislators would engage the National Assembly to facilitate implementation of the recommendations.
He acknowledged the numerous complaints by traders regarding operations at Nigeria’s borders and assured that the issues would receive comprehensive legislative attention.
The resolutions followed extensive field visits and town hall engagements with traders and business operators in Benin Republic, where participants highlighted persistent border delays, multiple checkpoints, inconsistent customs procedures and other barriers undermining the ECOWAS protocol on the free movement of goods and services.
The renewed legislative initiative comes as West African governments intensify efforts to deepen regional integration, stimulate industrialisation and position the sub-region to maximise opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
If fully implemented by member states and regional institutions, the reforms are expected to significantly reduce long-standing trade bottlenecks, improve the operating environment for MSMEs and advance ECOWAS’ vision of a fully integrated regional market.
