The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has called for urgent and coordinated action to eliminate non-tariff barriers (NTBs) hindering regional trade, investment, and industrialisation.
Speaking at the opening of the 94th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Abuja, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, urged member states to adopt a holistic approach in addressing NTBs, which continue to undermine the effectiveness of regional integration and economic growth.
“Non-tariff barriers have become a perennial obstacle to boosting regional trade, investment, competitiveness, and economic development,” Touray said. “Despite numerous initiatives — including the Presidential Task Force on the Trade Liberalisation Scheme — the problem persists.”
Touray, who recently travelled by road from Lagos to Cotonou to assess conditions along the Seme/Krake border, cited persistent bottlenecks despite the presence of joint border infrastructure. “We must do everything to put an end to this and facilitate economic exchange across the region,” he added.
He called on ministers to consider NTBs within the framework of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), emphasizing that more strategic efforts are required for meaningful integration and economic transformation.
Also speaking at the session, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairperson of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, stressed the need for strategic dialogue and decisive action. He said the session should serve as a moment of reflection on ECOWAS’ founding mission—economic decolonisation and regional solidarity.
“This session should be defined not only by the depth of our deliberations, but also by the courage of our decisions,” Tuggar stated. “Let us draw on our diverse expertise, share best practices and work collaboratively to ensure meaningful outcomes for our citizens.”
Tuggar also announced that the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES), an initiative by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will hold from June 20–21 in Abuja. The summit aims to strengthen private sector involvement in regional development and will bring together stakeholders from across public and private sectors, including regulators, investors, development finance institutions, and startups.
The two-day ministerial session is expected to review a wide range of reports and proposals on regional economic integration, infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, and institutional reforms.
