Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the new leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission to prioritise regional unity and integration as part of efforts to accelerate development across the West African sub-region.
Shettima made the call on Friday in New York, United States, when he received a delegation from the ECOWAS Commission led by its new President, General Birame Diop (rtd), on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The Vice President said the new leadership must focus on building bridges of friendship among countries in the region and promote policies and programmes capable of improving the lives and livelihoods of West Africans.
“Beyond your administrative duties, your leadership of the commission must make deliberate efforts to build bridges of friendship across the sub-region,” Shettima told the delegation.
He also urged ECOWAS to strengthen its engagement with emerging regional blocs, particularly the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), while championing deeper regional integration.
“I urge ECOWAS under your leadership to champion the cause of regional integration and strengthen the bonds of unity and friendship among our people,” he said.
Shettima further called for greater private-sector participation in the execution of the Lagos-Abidjan highway project, stressing the importance of stronger economic cooperation across the sub-region.
Congratulating Diop on his assumption of office, the Vice President noted that he was taking over the leadership of the regional organisation at a challenging period requiring greater synergy and cohesion among West African countries.
Shettima assured the ECOWAS Commission President of Nigeria’s continued cooperation and support, saying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to strengthening the regional body.
“My boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a man of honour and conviction who will always support efforts aimed at advancing the transformation of ECOWAS as a regional body, and the progress of the area in general,” he said.
He added that Nigeria would continue to provide an enabling environment for ECOWAS to succeed and contribute meaningfully to the vision of its founding fathers.
Earlier, Diop commended Nigeria for its historic role in the establishment and sustenance of ECOWAS, as well as its contributions to regional stability and prosperity.
The ECOWAS chief said rising insecurity and slow development across the sub-region had created challenges requiring Nigeria’s intervention as the region’s “big brother.”
He described ECOWAS as an important instrument for regional stability and called on member states to cooperate with Nigeria in promoting inclusive development and a better future for the people of West Africa.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim; and senior officials of the ECOWAS Commission.
General Birame Diop officially assumed office as President of the ECOWAS Commission in September 2026, succeeding Omar Alieu Touray.