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Tag: ECOWAS

  • Again, Nigeria warns against adoption of ECOWAS’ currency integration proposal by 2020

    Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday again warned member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against adopting the proposed currency integration in the sub-region by 2020.

    Recall that the body had earlier proposed the adoption of a single currency across member states for easy trade by 2020.

    Represented by Godwin Emefiele, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Buhari, sounded the warning during the fifth meeting of the Presidential Task Force on ECOWAS Currency Programme on Tuesday in Accra, Ghana.

    According to him, Heads of Government had not properly articulated and analysed a comprehensive picture of the state of preparedness of individual countries for monetary integration by 2020.

    He reiterated that the non-preparedness of some member countries, attempt to water down the criteria and continuing disparities between macro-economic conditions in ECOWAS countries, continued to be major issues of concern that members must examine in order to make progress.

    The President further observed that ECOWAS Heads of Government had not been adequately briefed on the full implications of forcing through the integration by 2020, particularly where some countries were not individually ready domestically.

    While pointing out that there were still outstanding issues in the roadmap to an integrated currency union, he noted that the macro-economic fundamentals of many countries in ECOWAS were diverse and uncertain.

    According to him, the inflation targeting regime recommended as framework was not feasible, as it was based on adoption of a flexible exchange rate regime, noting that the real convergence was nowhere near achievable despite efforts made so far.

    Buhari therefore, called for a push towards ratification and domestication of legal instruments and related protocols, and the harmonisation of all fiscal, trade and monetary policies and statistical systems, with a view to limiting the extent of current policy divergences.

    He also advised that the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) countries to make a presentation on a clear roadmap towards delinking from the French Treasury.

    Furthermore, the President called for a review of the fast-track approach to monetary integration and the harmonisation of plans by ECOWAS members with that of the African Union Programme of monetary convergence that had recommended a convergence deadline of 2034 for the establishment of Regional Central Banks in all sub-regions of the continent.

    The Nigerian leader also used the occasion of the meeting to call for the establishment of an Ombudsman with powers to invoke sanctions when member countries are in breach of agreed standards, protocols and convergence criteria.

    Similarly, the President called for the transformation of the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) into a West African Monetary Zone Commission, equivalent to the UEMOA commission.

    He stressed that his proposal of merging WAMI and WAMA, by the ECOWAS Commission into the ECOWAS Monetary Institute would be very critical in achieving monetary union in the West African sub-region.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Buhari had earlier in the fourth meeting of the Presidential Task Force on the ECOWAS Currency Programme held in October 2017 at Niamey, Republic of Niger warned against the adoption of the single currency initiative.

    “Nigeria advises that we proceed cautiously with the integration agenda, taking into consideration the above concerns and the lessons currently unfolding in the European Union.

    “To that end, Nigeria will caution against any position that pushes for a fast-track approach to monetary union, while neglecting fundamentals and other pertinent issues,” the President was quoted as saying.

    Speaking further, Buhari said: “Although the ECOWAS Commission has anchored its pursuit of the new impetus to monetary integration on the information presented to the Heads of State which were the basis for their recommendations, we are concerned that we have not properly articulated and analysed a comprehensive picture of the state of preparedness of individual countries for monetary integration in ECOWAS by 2020.

    “In previous meetings, we had specifically raised observations on the state of preparedness of the member states, the credibility of the union if anchored on watered down criteria, and the continuing disparities between macroeconomic conditions in ECOWAS countries, amongst others. And I would like to reiterate this concerns.”

  • How Nigeria, ECOWAS forced Yahya Jammeh out of power in The Gambia – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday explained how Nigeria and other member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) forced former President of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh out of power in 2017.

    The president also expressed regrets that ECOWAS had to use `strong-arm tactics’ to make Jammeh relinquish power to the new president.

    Recall that Jammeh, who re-contested and lost Gambia’s presidential election on Dec. 1, 2016, had refused to step aside despite several international appeals for him to do so.

    President Buhari, who stated this when he received the visiting Gambian President, Mr Adama Barrow, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday, said Nigeria and the ECOWAS had no option left than using the unpopular tactics.

    “We had to go through those actions because it was the only option for Nigeria and ECOWAS,’’ the President told Mr. Adama Barrow, the President of the Gambia who succeeded Jammeh.

    President Buhari recalled that in spite of all entreaties, the former President refused to accept the outcome of the election he superintended which was widely accepted as credible.

    He said: “We thank God for the role He allowed us to play in the Gambia.

    “We believe in multi-party democracy. In Africa, it is absolutely necessary but for the system to work and one to come out of it clean, there is need for patience.

    ‘‘Patience on the part of leaders is also necessary in view of ethnic and religious diversities that prevail. Leaders must be patient, hardworking and resourceful.’’

    President Buhari counselled that if African countries could get the institutional structures of democracy working properly, the continent would emerge from the process of development successfully.

    He urged the Gambian leader to uphold the legacy of free and fair elections, which he described as the biggest guarantee for democracy.

    While comparing experiences with the new leader of the Gambia, the Nigerian leader said one of the biggest challenges facing Nigeria was unemployment.

    “Sixty per cent of the 180 million people are under 25 years. They all wish for a secure future. Those of them who are educated feel they are more qualified for employment.

    “We have studied the problem and are doing our best to stabilize the situation.

    ‘‘We took over from a party that had been in power for 16 years. During those years, the country earned an unprecedented amount of money as revenue, never seen at any time before,” he stated.

    The President announced that representatives of both countries will deliberate and advise the leaders on how best to strengthen the existing level of cooperation between the two states.

    In his remarks, President Barrow said he came to thank Nigeria and its leader in person for ensuring the completion of the democratic process in his country, which had stalled back then following the refusal of Jammeh to accept the election results.

    The Gambian leader said his country received the support of Nigeria in many spheres, citing education, administration, justice and security sectors and requested President Buhari to continue to be of assistance.

    “We will never forget Nigeria for the help it has rendered to us since independence,” the visiting Gambian leader said.

     

  • ECOWAS discuss Morocco’s membership as summit opens in Abuja

    The 52nd ECOWAS Heads of State and Government summit opened in Abuja on Saturday as leaders discuss Morocco’s membership of the bloc and the security situation in Guinea Bissau.

    Morocco had made its request to be a member of ECOWAS while Tunisia requested to be an observer country.

    The 51st Ordinary Session held in Monrovia, Liberia in June agreed in principle to Morocco’s membership of the sub-regional bloc and directed the commission to consider the implications of the country’s membership.

    The commission confirmed that study on the impact of Morocco’s membership was carried out and the outcome would be submitted to the Authority.

    Morocco was, however not invited for the 52nd summit.

    Its Foreign Ministry reportedly said that the country had to wait until the first quarter of 2018 to know the decision of the ECOWAS Heads of State which would be announced at an extraordinary session.

    Tunisia has, however, been granted an observer status by the authority and the commission has been further directed to take necessary measures to ensure all procedures relating to an observer status are implemented.

    The commission also confirmed that the authority called on Mauritania to submit its request for readmission to ECOWAS.

    Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and Tunisian President Beji Essebsi are scheduled to make presentations as special guests at the opening session of the summit.

    The summit would also discuss the political and security situation in Guinea Bissau.

    The ECOWAS recently said its mission in Guinea Bissau had taken an “excruciating toll” on the financial resources of the sub-region.

    The ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau (ECOMIB) made up of troops from Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Togo and Niger was deployed in May 2012 following a military coup in April 2012.

    ECOMIB helped to establish a civilian-led transitional government, which ended with the election of President José Mario Vaz in a run-off in May 2014 for a five-year term.

    The international community has called on authorities of Guinea Bissau to implement the Conakry Agreement of Oct. 2016.

    The agreement is the primary framework for a peaceful resolution of the political crisis in the country.

    The Heads of State went in for a closed-door session before making any statements, which is away from its usual tradition.

    The West African leaders, during the closed session, would review the reports of the 79th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers and the 39th Ordinary Meeting of the Mediation and Security Council.

    President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria is scheduled to present a welcome address at the opening of the summit followed by statements of President of the commission, Marcel de Souza.

    Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat would present statements.

    The opening address would be made by the Chairman of the Authority, President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo.

    NAN reports that all 15-member states of the ECOWAS are represented at the summit. (NAN)

  • [PHOTOS] Buhari welcomes Heads of State to 52nd ECOWAS summit in Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday welcomed Heads of State and Government to the 52nd ECOWAS summit opened in Abuja on Saturday (today).

    The president is scheduled to present a welcome address at the opening of the summit followed by statements of President of the commission, Marcel de Souza.

    See photos below:

  • ECOWAS urges member states to strengthen efforts to secure migrant routes

    ECOWAS has urged member states to support the Nigerien Government in its efforts to address the challenges of irregular migration in the sub-region.

    The Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs of the ECOWAS Commission stated this in a document on ECOWAS initiatives to combat trafficking in persons.

    The document was presented by ECOWAS Commissioner, Social Affairs and Gender, Dr Fatimata Dia Sow to the ongoing second ordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja on Monday.

    Sow was represented by Mrs Florence Iheme from the directorate.

    She said that it was recommended for member states to strengthen security measures along transit routes and enhance collaboration with stakeholders to curb illegal migration.

    “It also called for specific and further support for the government of Niger’s efforts in responding to the problem of West Africans attempting to migrate through irregular means to Europe.

    ““It is important to emphasise the requirement for closer collaboration with other stakeholders in responding to the migration situation overall, especially the African Union and other partners such as the International Organisation for Migration and United Nations High Commission for Refugees.”

    She said that member states were further urged to set up an “immediate” fact finding mission to Libya and surrounding affected countries.

    She recalled that mechanisms had been put in place by the Heads of State and Government to combat trafficking in persons, especially women and children in West Africa.

    The commissioner, however, added that it was important for member states to ensure that efforts were put in place to ensure that vulnerable populations were better protected from becoming victims of human trafficking.

  • Just in: Buhari arrives in Niger ECOWAS Meeting

    President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Niger to attend a meeting on common currency for the West African sub-region.

    The President left Nigeria early hours of Tuesday for Niamey, Republic of Niger, to participate in a meeting on common currency for the West African sub-region.

    Details later…

  • Nigeria should oppose Morocco’s bid to join ECOWAS – CSO

    The Centre of Democracy Development, CDD, has urged Nigeria to rise up to the occasion and ensure that the application of Morocco to join the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, is rejected.

    The Director of CDD, Idayat Hassan, made the call on Thursday at the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Morocco’s application to the ECOWAS.

    According to Ms. Hassan, Morocco, since its formal request on February 24, to join ECOWAS has relentlessly pursued the agenda by designating an ambassador to ECOWAS on March 2.

    She said the move by Morocco to join the ECOWAS is a direct challenge to the leadership of Nigeria in the sub-region.

    “ECOWAS is for the states in the West African sub-region and in this regard, the revised treaty defined the region as the geographical zone known as West Africa as defined by a resolution of the then OAU Council of Ministers.

    “Morocco is not classified among the member states of the ECOWAS by the UN and the African Union.

    `Why will Morocco in the Maghreb want to join ECOWAS? what exactly does the region have in common either in terms of economic, religious and cultural affinity with West Africa?

    “Morocco host the Arab Maghreb Union so why will the host of AMU want to join West Africa? More so, it is an associated country of the European Union.

    “Morocco’s move to join the ECOWAS is a deliberate ploy to reduce the influence and strength of Nigeria,” she said.

    Ms. Hassan said Nigeria has contributed a lot financially in its 42 years of ECOWAS existence.

    “Morocco has always held an observer status in ECOWAS since 2005 so why then have a full membership?

    “When you have the likes of Mauritania exiting ECOWAS though in West Africa because it said it is more of the Maghreb in terms of orientation.

    “I think Nigeria having invested so much for 42 years into ECOWAS and on the ideal it stands for, even for the fact that Morocco itself is a monarchical system it is not a democratic so why allow a monarchy to come into play?” she said.

    Ms. Hassan said that the ascension of Morocco into ECOWAS would change a lot of things adding that “for example how do we adopt the supplementary protocols on democracy and good governance on Morocco?

    Earlier, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Marcel de Souza, who was represented by Babatunde Idowu, Programme Officer, Office of the ECOWAS President, commended the initiative of the dialogue.

    Mr. De souza said that the dialogue would serve as a platform to interrogate, deliberate and discuss Morocco’s ascension to ECOWAS with a view to understand the incentive and motivations behind Morocco’s decision.

    He said that ECOWAS had worked hard to harmonise all sectoral policies and it could be theoretically posited that ECOWAS’s greatest achievement was its power of attraction and persuasion.

    He said that perhaps, it was within that soft power theory that Morocco’s application to join ECOWAS, Tunisia’s application for ECOWAS observer status and the return of Mauritania to ECOWAS should be interrogated, debated and discussed.

    NAN reports that ECOWAS leaders met in Liberia in June to discuss the prospects of Morocco joining the bloc, saying it had agreed in principle to consider the request, even though Morocco is geographically located in North Africa.

    Morocco’s move came roughly six months after it re-entered the African Union in January, 33 years after it left the continental body in 1984 due to disagreements about the independence of Western Sahara.

    The African Union recognises the independence of Western Sahara, which is also a member of the union, as a sovereign state, even though Morocco still considers it an occupied territory.

    African countries reached a consensus to discuss pending issues about Western Sahara for another day in order to admit Morocco “back in the family”.

    NAN

     

  • Nigeria to repatriate 18 ECOWAS citizens

    Nigeria to repatriate 18 ECOWAS citizens

    Eighteen illegal immigrants arrested by officers of Nigeria Immigration Service, Ogun Command, at Akonu village, Bode Olude area, will soon be repatriated to their countries of origin.

    The Public Relations Officer of the command, Olaniyi Mobolaji, made the announcement on Sunday in Abeokuta in a statement issued to newsmen.

    He said that 10 of the 18 illegal immigrants were indigenes of Benin Republic while eight were Togolese.

    He added that the illegal immigrants, who are being profiled, are residing and working illegally in Nigeria.

    The spokesperson said the command received intelligence report on their activities based on the directive of the state comptroller, Ajibola Bayeroju.

    He promised that the command would leave no stone unturned to flush out illegal immigrants residing in the state.

    NAN

     

  • Adopt common currency to boost trade, Obasanjo charges ECOWAS

    Adopt common currency to boost trade, Obasanjo charges ECOWAS

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday called on the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to agree on common currency to boost the regional trade.

    Obasanjo made call at the ongoing 24th Annual General Meeting of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in Kigali.

    He spoke on: Can Regional Economic Communities Work for Africa: Lessons from a Founding Father.

    He said that the issue of common currency was getting delayed because the regional leaders had put forward “ECO” as a name for the currency but wondered why it had not been adopted.

    According to him, the currency is required to move the current level of the regional trade from 25 per cent to more than 50 per cent.

    He said the various currency zones like the Naira zone, the Cedi zone, among others should not be allowed to mitigate the flow of trade within the region.

    He blamed too many internal conflicts and changes in policies, among others, as some of the challenges facing the region.

    Obasanjo, however, lauded ECOWAS countries for their ability to resolve their issues on their own, adding that ECOWAS on its own had resolved conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.

    He said that in the case of The Gambia, ECOWAS leaders agreed that a military option should be adopted but it should be without firing a bullet.

    “I was sure the ousted president Yahya Jammeh will leave but when he started delaying ECOWAS leaders met, it was agreed a military option should be adopted.

    “The tactics worked and when the countries leaders were saying the ousted president Yahya Jammeh had left the country with huge sums of money. I told them to allow him to go with the money so far he allows the country to remain in peace,” he said.

    He said the region had been most democratic region going by free and fair elections done in the countries.

    He told the audience that in the region, elections had been held without violence and wherever there was crisis the region had resolved such crisis peacefully.

     

     

    NAN

  • When the goat claims same paternity with the sheep – Owei Lakemfa

    By Owei Lakemfa.
    Morocco, the North African kingdom is noted for its tantrums, rascality and general disregard for human rights, international norms and conventions.
    An attempt by sister African countries like Nigeria to convince the kingdom to respect the independence of its smaller neigbour, Western Sahara led to Morocco storming out of the African Union (then the Organisation of African Unity) and returning like a prodigal son only after 35 years. But even the foregoing, did not prepare me for its application to join the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) when it knows, it is not a ‘West African State’
    Ordinarily, a spoilt brat with his fits of temper, outburst and irritabilities can be allowed to play out his pranks; this was what we would have expected the ECOWAS leadership under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia to do. But in a shocking move, rather than throw the application into a trash can, the ECOWAS considered Morocco’s application! I do not expect anything better from 79-year old President Sirleaf who is not friendly with principles, but what about the other leaders in the Community?
    So rather than West Africans grappling with the challenges of economic prosperity, mass employment, democratic culture, security, full integration and development, they are being diverted by a divisive application whose politics are unclear but destructive.
    It is basic knowledge that the African Union, for accelerated integration and development, divided the continent into five Regional Economic Communities; West, East, Central, South and North, and common sense tells us that Morocco belongs to North Africa. So, its attempt to join ECOWAS indicates mischief, and that its backers outside the continent are likely to be playing the music it is dancing to.
    The ECOWAS Treaty states explicitly that “The aims of the Community are to promote co-operation and integration, leading to the establishment of an economic union in West Africa” So how does a North African country fit into this? Will we because of Morocco rewrite our Treaty? Or will our leaders redraw the world map to relocate Morocco to West Africa? It is as absurd as that.
    I know there are those who hope to get crumbs from the wealth Morocco is flaunting, but as we say in Nigeria, you do not because you want to eat beef start addressing and treating the cow as your elder brother.
    The geo-political and geo-strategic distance between the Mediterranean Sea where Morocco is naturally situated, and the Gulf of Guinea where West Africa is located, makes the whole arrangement absurd. What is Morocco’s interest in the Gulf of Guinea?
    Simply put, if you are not in West Africa, you cannot be a member of ECOWAS just as if you are not in Africa, you cannot be a member of the African Union even if you are our first cousins in the Caribbean. It certainly will be crazy for Nigeria to apply to be a member of the European Union or Organisation of American States (OAS) or for France to apply to join the OAS.
    An hungry academic, Omorou Toure, a Professor of Law of the University of Bamako, Mali is circulating a paper on internet, justifying Morocco’s possible admission. He wrote: “Economically, ECOWAS is the Kingdom’s best sub regional opportunity … It offers Morocco a market of 320 million consumers for a gross domestic product of 700 billion dollars.” If this were a sensible argument, then it is Britain, China or United States that should apply and be accepted for ECOWAS membership not Morocco which is living off the looted resources of the Saharawi people.
    It is not that Morocco is an orphan; it belongs to the Arab Mahgreb Union (AMU) which was established in Marrakech, Morocco 28 years ago. Also, the headquarters of the AMU is in Rabat, the Moroccan capital. But due to Morocco’s quarrelsomeness, the AMU has been unable to hold a high level meeting for nine years now. The country has the Atlantic Ocean on its western borders and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. Of its two neigbours, it is illegally occupying Western Sahara to the south and has no friendly relations with Algeria, on its eastern border.
    Apart from this indicating the character of the country, it also casts doubt whether it can abide by the ECOWAS basic Non-Aggression Principle. If Morocco had helped build AMU as Nigeria did building ECOWAS, we may be talking today about ECOWAS-AMU cooperation and not about accommodating Morocco’s wandering spirit. Admitting Morocco will be like the English trite: “ One bad apple spoil the bunch’ Morocco has the capability and propensity to bring the ECOWAS group down.
    A basic principle of ECOWAS is democracy and its promotion. It almost invaded Gambia in January when President Yahya Jammeh initially declined to hand-over power after losing elections. The ECOWAS Treaty takes democracy as an article of fate.
    In its Declaration of Political Principles adopted in Abuja on 6 July, 1991, ECOWAS pledged itself: “to promote democracy in the sub-region on the basis of political pluralism” In contrast, Morocco is run by a monarchical dictatorship. The Monarchy has been in place since 904 AD while the current Alaouite Dynasty has been in power for 351 years now. If Morocco were to be admitted, will ECOWAS exempt it from abiding by its Treaty and Principles, or, since the Monarchy will not self-destruct for democracy, will it convince ECOWAS States to go monarchical? Matters are as absurd.
    For 45 years now, Morocco has rejected the AU recognition of Western Sahara as a free country. For 42 years, it has defied the ruling of the International Court of Justice (IJC) recognizing the right of Western Sahara to independence. For 35 years, it has blocked the United Nations decision to hold a referendum in Western Sahara. I have no doubt that it will not recognize the powers of the ECOWAS Court were it to make a ruling.
    Nigeria which under then General Muhammadu Buhari stood against Morocco’s kleptocracy by recognizing Western Sahara, today, has the duty of rescuing ECOWAS from Morocco. We have invested too much in ECOWAS and made so much sacrifices including Nigerian lives (under the ECOMOG Military intervention force) that we cannot allow Morocco to destroy what we have built.
    Morocco is like a goat insisting that it is a sheep, forgetting that while goats are browsers, eating leaves, vines and twigs, sheep are grazers eating short grasses. While the goat, like Morocco, is a stubborn loner, the sheep prefers flocking; keeping the family together. This is not to say we do not belong to the same African family or that a united states of Africa is not desirable. Rather, it is to state emphatically, that Morocco endangers integration and unity.