Integration, security top ECOWAS agenda for 2009
By Oghogho Obayuwana, Abuja
THE Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the weekend identified the consolidation of peace and security, promotion of good governance and democracy as its major challenges. The others are deepening of integration process through a common market and the interconnectivity of the markets through adequate infrastructure.
Also, the African Union (AU) has endorsed the candidacy of Nigeria's Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, as Africa's sole candidate for the presidency of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
But even as the ECOWAS Commission unveiled the challenges for 2009, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and the country's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bagudu Hirse, has reiterated Nigeria's commitment to an accelerated implementation of regional integration programmes.
According to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Ibn Mohammed Chambas, the challenges would be met through a well-coordinated fix programme that include the achievement of a customs union, conclusion of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU), regional infrastructure, the ECOWAS Common Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP), regional peace and security and the community levy.
Speaking in Abuja at a reconvened meeting with the ECOWAS Commission in his capacity as chairman of the council, the minister noted that all impediments to the achievement of the finer elements of integration efforts would be blocked "with the kind of extensive collaboration that we will now have."
The council is responsible for the running of ECOWAS institutions.
While acknowledging that Nigeria's ascendancy to the ECOWAS presidency for the next one year would bring the country and the commission closer, Hirse pledged that Nigeria would intensify its efforts towards the realisation of set objectives, part of which are the Trade Liberalisation Scheme (TLS) and the Common External Tariff (CET), which has been fixed for June 2009.
The minister, who spoke on the implementation of the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons - a major aspect of the regional integration programme - commended the Lagos State government for initiating a public-private sector partnership to expand the Lagos-Badagry-Seme Road, which leads to Benin Republic, to decongest traffic as well as facilitate free movement of persons, goods and services.
IFAD, a UN specialised agency, which election comes up later in the month, the AU has endorsed choice of Nwanze as Africa's sole candidate for its presidency. Nwanze is currently the body's vice president.
At a media briefing at the weekend in Abuja, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, said the decision was taken at the just ended 12th summit of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
"Nigeria made the call for the support of Nwanze's candidature. Finally, the AU assembly endorsed it after they were made aware of the fact that we had earlier secured ECOWAS' backing. We are optimistic that he will get it without splitting Africa's votes. Nigeria is being backed by several other counties, some of which had been waiting for the AU endorsement before giving their support."
Nwanze will face opposition in Rome, Italy (where IFAD is headquartered) from Germany, Israel and Pakistan, who have also fielded candidates for the position now headed by Mr. Lennart Bage.
