Our Staff
Nigeria has pressed for stronger financial discipline and closer economic ties across West Africa during the 96th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The call came as regional leaders reviewed mid-year performance and set priorities for the second half of 2026.
Leading the Nigerian delegation, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, acknowledged progress made by the ECOWAS Commission. He specifically commended improvements in revenue mobilisation recorded in the first half of the year, noting that the gains show the Commission is moving in the right direction. 
The minister, however, said commendation must be matched with action. He urged the Commission and other Community institutions to tighten budget implementation, improve financial management practices, and ensure resources are used efficiently so citizens can feel the impact of regional programs.
Rising costs provided the backdrop for Nigeria’s push on efficiency. Enikanolaiye called for stricter cost-saving measures to address growing operational expenses, inflation, and the economic strain on member states. He stressed that waste must be eliminated and institutional processes streamlined to protect public funds.
On governance, Enikanolaiye contributed to deliberations on the President’s 2026 Interim Report on the State of the ECOWAS Community. He praised the outgoing President of the ECOWAS Commission for advancing the bloc’s strategic objectives during his tenure, and encouraged member states to formally recognize those contributions.
Cultural heritage also featured in Nigeria’s remarks. The minister reaffirmed the country’s commitment to recovering and protecting African artefacts. He called for deeper cooperation among member states on the restitution and proper documentation of cultural property taken from the continent.
As evidence of progress, he pointed to the recent return of 23 Nigerian artefacts by Switzerland. The handover, he said, reflects the results of Nigeria’s national restitution framework and shows what coordinated diplomacy can achieve.
Finally, Enikanolaiye backed plans to institutionalize the West Africa Integration and Investment Summit, WAIIS, as a flagship ECOWAS platform. Nigeria supports the summit as a tool to drive regional investment, strengthen value chains, and attract private capital. To succeed, he added, it should remain private sector-driven so it delivers real growth and faster integration across the region.
