President ECOWAS Commission Dr Omar Tourey has said the formation of a sub-regional standing force by the bloc would address any disintegration and existential threat before it.

Tourey said this at the formal opening of the first 2024 ordinary session of the 6th ECOWAS Parliament Monday at the National Assembly in Abuja.

The president of the commission said the formation of the embryonic standing force was a response to the threat posed by terrorism, violent extremism, and military coups in West Africa.

According to him, the Commission was already putting in place all the necessary measures, including funding and logistics, for the standing force to become a reality.

“Our region is facing the risk of disintegration with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger notifying ECOWAS of their intention to exit.

“Their exit will worsen insecurity and free movement, and deal a deadly blow to ECOWAS, especially regarding our joint efforts towards forming a regional standing force which all member states have all agreed.

“It will also lead to international isolation of these three countries and they will also not enjoy ECOWAS support for any international position they aspire for,” Tourey said.

The president of the commission disclosed that ECOWAS had already opened dialogue and negotiations with the three Sahelian states to persuade them to rescind their decision to quit.

Tourey noted that the three countries would lose a lot more by exiting the bloc, stressing that they would gain more by remaining in ECOWAS.

“For instance, they will stop using ECOWAS passports, and cannot register companies. ECOWAS will stop all ongoing projects totaling over 500 million dollars in their countries.

“ECOWAS Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBID) alone has projects worth nearly 321 million dollars in these countries.

“Their quitting will also lead to the closure of regional institutions in their countries, and this will lead to the loss of many jobs by their citizens,” he said.

Tourey, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), therefore, urged the parliamentarians to make meaningful contributions towards integrating West African countries as one entity, stressing that it was crucial ahead of ECOWAS’ 50th anniversary in May 2025.

 …Akpabio tasks body on collaboration

Declaring the session open,Nigeria’s President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio said the  myriad of challenges in the West African sub-region can be surmounted through required galvanisation by the ECOWAS Parliament.

 He said the galvanisation should be driven by the spirit of unity, innovation and an unwavering belief in the sub-region’s shared destiny.

This, according to him, was needed to transform the region’s collective aspirations into enduring achievements. 

Represented by the Deputy President of the Senate and the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Barau Jibrin, the President of the Senate highlighted the centuries-old history of collaboration among the diverse people of the region.

 He urged the Community Parliament to go beyond legislation and uplift the people by exemplifying the power of collaboration.

 “As we embark on the deliberations and discussions that lie ahead, let us remain steadfast in our optimism. The challenges we face are not insurmountable. With unity, innovation, and an unwavering belief in our shared destiny, we can transform our collective aspirations into enduring achievements.

“In this session, let our conversations be driven by the spirit of partnership and collective ambition. Let us demonstrate that when West Africa stands united, there are no limits to what we can accomplish. Our diversity is our strength, and our unity is our power. 

“From the ancient empires of Ghana, Oyo, Mali, and Songhai, which flourished through trade and cooperation, to the pivotal alliances forged during the fight for independence, the spirit of unity has always guided our path. 

“This very spirit should permeate every session of the ECOWAS Parliament. It should envelop us like a comforting embrace as we proudly raise the banner of ECOWAS.

“While we are aware of the official establishment of ECOWAS in 1975, it is crucial to recognize that its foundations were laid centuries before this year by our ancestors. Therefore, let us not view ECOWAS solely as a political instrument, but as a cultural artifact and the enduring legacy of our history. 

“Today, as representatives in this esteemed Parliament, let us proudly uphold and carry forward this rich heritage as a badge of honor,” he said.

 …ECOWAS Speaker’s remarks

In her opening remarks, Speaker ECOWAS Parliament Rt. Hon Memounatou Ibrahima expressed deep concern over the upsurge in the threat of terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime, which, she said, were costing the lives of valiant defence and security forces, as well as thousands of innocent people in West Africa.

She expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is also Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, for the invaluable support he had always provided to the ECOWAS Parliament to facilitate the fulfilment of its mandate. 

The parliamentarian also applauded the National Assembly for availing it the use of its temporary chambers to hold the session as the ECOWAS Parliament pending the completion of the renovation work in its own chambers.