Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to strengthen institutions, eliminate trade barriers, and ensure the free movement of people and goods across the region.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made the call at the first 2025 ECOWAS Parliamentary Seminar, themed “ECOWAS at 50 and Parliament at 25: Reflections on the Community Parliament Towards Attaining Regional Integration,” held in Lagos.
He emphasized the need for West African leaders to promote peace, address conflict triggers, and create employment opportunities to empower youths and foster self-reliance.
Sanwo-Olu stated that the challenges of climate change and regional disintegration require proactive solutions. We must build a West Africa where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Commending ECOWAS for its contributions to regional integration and cooperation, he highlighted Lagos and Nigeria’s historical role in championing peace and collaboration since the community’s inception in May 1975. He also praised the ECOWAS Parliament for its efforts in advancing trade, integration, and free movement across member states.
In her remarks, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, acknowledged the community’s significant achievements over the past five decades, particularly in economic growth and peacekeeping.
She noted that celebrating ECOWAS’ Golden Jubilee in Lagos was symbolic, as the city was the birthplace of the Treaty of Lagos, which established the regional body.
Similarly, the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, emphasized ECOWAS’ role in fostering cooperation, dialogue, and economic prosperity across West Africa.