By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as new statutory appointees assume office at the regional bloc’s institutions.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, gave the assurance in Abuja at a handover ceremony for outgoing and incoming statutory appointees of ECOWAS institutions. 
Speaking as the host minister and conveying the greetings of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Enikanolaiye described the transition as a demonstration of continuity in the regional integration process, more than five decades after the establishment of ECOWAS.
He urged the new leadership to remain committed to the vision of the founding fathers of building a united, peaceful, prosperous and integrated West Africa.
The minister particularly called for an “ECOWAS of citizens and not of governments”, urging the incoming management to make the interests of ordinary citizens central to its policies and programmes.
He charged the new leadership to prioritise the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2050, “The ECOWAS of Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All”, with emphasis on free movement, intra-regional trade and investment, infrastructure development, food and energy security, youth and women empowerment, and job creation.
Enikanolaiye also stressed the need for financial discipline and accountability within the regional organisation.
He said, “financial probity, accountability, cost-effectiveness and prudent management must remain watchwords”, adding that ECOWAS must justify the huge financial investments made by Nigeria and other member states through the Community Levy.
The minister identified peace and security as critical to achieving meaningful regional economic integration, while calling for stronger engagement with countries belonging to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
He urged ECOWAS to engage the AES countries as “brothers and sisters with shared challenges and aspirations”, stressing the need to address regional differences through dialogue and cooperation.
While commending the outgoing President, Commissioners and Heads of ECOWAS Institutions for their service, Enikanolaiye congratulated the incoming team and urged them to lead with vision, integrity, efficiency and a strong commitment to serving citizens.
“Nigeria remains committed to working constructively with the new leadership and all Member States towards a stronger, more integrated and people-centred ECOWAS,” he said.
The new President of the ECOWAS Commission, General Birame Diop, has assumed office, succeeding Dr Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia, whose four-year tenure has ended.
Diop, a former Senegalese Minister of Defence and former Chief of the General Staff of the Senegalese Armed Forces, was appointed by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its 69th Ordinary Summit in Sierra Leone.
He is expected to provide strategic leadership towards strengthening regional integration, peace and security, economic cooperation and institutional effectiveness.
Nigeria’s Anthony Ogunjimi will serve as Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, while new Commissioners have also taken over their respective portfolios.
The ceremony was attended by the Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, H.E. Cheikh Niang, members of the Permanent Representatives Committee, Chairman of the ECOWAS Business Council, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, staff of ECOWAS institutions and members of the media.
