ECOWAS established to fight neo-colonialism – Tuggar

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established to fight neo-colonialism, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and Chair of Council of Ministers, has said. Tuggar disclosed this on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the 94th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Community of […]

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established to fight neo-colonialism, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and Chair of Council of Ministers, has said.

Tuggar disclosed this on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the 94th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He said the two-day session was “A time to remind ourselves of the founding reasons of ECOWAS and other African Regional Economic Communities, which is essentially the fight against neo-colonialism.”

While highlighting the importance of cooperation and coordination among members of the regional bloc, Tuggar said: “For newly independent African countries, if you stay alone and isolated from your neighbours, you remain dependent on the former colonial master, forever consigning yourself to being an exporter of agricultural cash crops and raw materials to the metropolis.

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“Conversely, if you trade freely with your neighbours, develop infrastructure jointly to strengthen the trade, you develop indigenous industries, collective self-reliance and take control of your destinies.

“Given that we have a youthful population, I feel it has become necessary, whenever the opportunity arises, to remind ourselves that ECOWAS and regional integration in Africa was borne out of our yearning for economic decolonisation and not the other way round.”

He said the meeting will consider and reflect on a wide range of reports and proposals, concentrating on thematic and sectoral matters that are central to the development and stability of the region.

Tuggar, therefore, invited participants to approach discussions with an ethos of collegiality, compromise and flexibility with a broader vision for a strong, united and resilient Regional Economic Community.

Speaking earlier, the President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, said presentation at the meeting will include the outcome of the Joint Meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry, who met to examine and validate the key regional instruments, as well as discuss the regional and continental issues relating to trade, industry and investment promotion.

He said the non-tariff barriers have become a perennial obstacle to boosting regional trade, investment, industrialisation, competitiveness and economic growth of the region.

“Despite numerous initiatives, including the Presidential Tasks Force on Trade Liberation Scheme, the problem persists,” he said.