ECOWAS States in Competition to Host WAHO amid Relocation Plans from B’Faso

ECOWAS States in Competition to Host WAHO amid Relocation Plans from B’Faso

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

Member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are currently in serious competition to host the West African Health Organization (WAHO) as part of the ongoing relocation of ECOWAS agencies from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

This was disclosed at a Press Briefing on Monday in Abuja, by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, as ECOWAS prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

According to Tuggar, the decision for relocation and bidding by member states to host the agencies follows the formal withdrawal of these three countries from the regional bloc, raising questions about their future within ECOWAS.

“The fact that certain ECOWAS agencies and institutions are leaving the Alliance of Sahel States and relocating to ECOWAS member states is what all the countries signed up to. It is part of the agreement,” Tuggar explained.

He emphasized that member states have the right to host these agencies, and with the departure of Burkina Faso, the West African Health Organization must find a new home. “There’s even hot competition amongst the member states to host it. Unfortunately, that’s the rule. Those are the regulations that all the countries signed up to,” he added.

The minister’s remarks come just weeks after an Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Accra, Ghana, where contingency measures and future relations with the three nations were discussed.

Tuggar, however, reassured that despite the relocations, ECOWAS remains hopeful for the return of these countries.

“I was in Niger not long ago, and they made it clear to us that they have not ruled out a return in the future. Under different circumstances, we hope that they will return,” he stated.

As ECOWAS prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary on May 28 in Lagos, Tuggar highlighted the importance of this milestone. The event will feature a series of activities, including discussions on the community’s achievements and challenges.

“This is an exercise for the revalidation of the commitment that the member countries have to ECOWAS after 50 years,” he said, noting that the celebrations will take place at the National Institute of International Affairs, where ECOWAS was founded, and later at the EKO Hotel and Suites.

The minister also took the opportunity to showcase some of ECOWAS’s remarkable achievements over the years, including the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme, which has significantly increased intra-regional trade.

“We are talking about the Abidjan-Lagos corridor and the Abidjan-Dakar corridor, which are vital trade and transport routes,” Tuggar remarked.

He further emphasized the importance of the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT), which streamlines customs procedures and promotes faster processing of goods across borders.

Tuggar acknowledged the challenges posed by the recent political changes in member states but remained optimistic about the future of ECOWAS.

“One of the major impediments to development is the low volume of trade among countries within Africa. We cannot have an African continental free trade area without the regional economic communities working together,” he stated.

The Minister reiterated the commitment of ECOWAS under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to continue fostering regional integration and cooperation.

“ECOWAS has evolved over the years, and we are looking forward to seeing a single currency that will help to foster economic achievement in the future,” he said.

Tuggar emphasized that while the adoption of the Eco remains a work in progress, the community is dedicated to overcoming the challenges ahead.

“There are certain criteria to reach in order to meet convergence. At the moment, none of the countries has reached that criteria. That is one of the reasons you see a country like Nigeria embarking on macroeconomic reforms so that we’ll be able to reach that level that would allow for convergence. Rest assured, it’s a work in progress,” Tuggar said.

In 2019, ECOWAS leaders adopted the name “Eco” for the single currency for West Africa, but political and economic factors have marred its implementation. At the 2023 ECOWAS summit, the adoption of the Eco was a top priority.