President Bola Tinubu has emerged the new Chairman of the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the
Authority of Heads of State and Government on Sunday in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
President Tinubu, who is the latest entrant into the exclusive club of Heads of State
in West Africa, accepted the honour, on behalf of Nigeria, but warned that the threat
to peace in the sub-region had reached an alarming proportion with terrorism and
emerging pattern of military takeover that now demand urgent and concerted
actions.
(cue in: PRESIDENT Tinubu on ECOWAS Security)
The new ECOWAS Chairman also called for improved private sector participation in
the effort towards the economic development of Member States as well as their
social integration.
(cue in: PRESIDENT Tinubu on ECOWAS Economy)
In his welcome address, the outgone ECOWAS Chairman and President of Republic
of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo commended his fellow leaders for
sustaining the vision of the organisation despite the global economic headwinds and
trouble spots within the region.
He cited Mali, Burkina Faso and Republic of Guinea as countries where the
constitutional order had been distorted while congratulating Nigeria and Sierra Leone
for keeping constitutional order through democratic process after successful elections