President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday explained how Africa can maintain its relevance in a competitive global arena.
He said African countries should be active to compete globally, affirm and defend their continental unity, and reject what he described as “a new scramble for the continent”.

President Tinubu, who is the chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of States and Government, said Africa should be proactive, insisting that the odds against the continent do not require passive leadership.

He rejected the notion of a new scramble for Africa at a time the historic plundering and exploitation of the past should be consigned to the heap of history.

Tinubu spoke in Nairobi, Kenya, during the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union (AU), the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Regional Mechanisms (RMs), and African Union Member States.

According to a statement by his Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, the President also spoke on the twin challenges of terrorism and the reversal of democratic changes of government.

To address the twin challenges, Tinubu said ECOWAS Authority was set to strengthen its Standby Force for deployment to fight terror and resist coups.

President Tinubu highlighted the progress made by ECOWAS in its integration process, including trade, free movement of persons, investment promotion, infrastructure development, and security.

In his speech, entitled: “Address on Status of Regional Integration in ECOWAS,” he emphasised the need for Africa to overcome its challenges and work towards a prosperous future, focusing on inclusive growth, good governance, and leveraging the opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Urging African leaders to foster good governance to ensure a prosperous future for the continent, President Tinubu said: “As Africans, we forge ahead, no matter the barriers thrust before us.

“The world we inhabit is often unkind and uncertain. History and current global difficulties argue against our future success.

“Lessons of the past few years teach us that the world economy can be disrupted in ways that halt progress and invite downturn. 

“Our nations can suddenly find themselves in dire situations if we choose to be passive observers of our fate.”

Rejecting the notion of passivity, he said Africa will not permit the repeat of scramble, exploitation and plundering of the continent.

On peace, security, and stability, the President said the sub-region should be liberated from terrorism and anti-constitutional changes in government.

He added: “We sit here in meaningful discussion of vital economic matters. Yet, it will be impossible to bring full meaning to what we attempt unless we give due consideration to the instability and conflict that now scar many of our nations.

“The fullness of the integration we seek will elude us as long as several of our nations stand in the mist on violence and war.

“The trade and commerce we talk of today refers to valued goods and services that improve life. 

“The trade and commerce these nations suffer is of destruction and disorder that takes lives and steals opportunity.

“We cannot integrate Africa and attain the prosperity we seek while our nearby brothers and sisters suffer in pain and anguish; they should not suffer. We must advance as one continent toward peace and prosperity.

“Otherwise, we risk the creation of two or more Africa, one a select group of nations moving steadily while the rest remain trapped in the age-old mire of poverty, conflict and lack of hope. 

“It is very clear that in the area of peace, security, and stability, our region is confronted with the twin challenges of terrorism and reversal of democratic gains through undemocratic changes of government.

“To address these challenges, the ECOWAS Authority, which I have the honour to chair, has given directive regarding the enhancement of the role of the ECOWAS Standby Force for deployment to fight terrorism and undemocratic changes in government.”

President Tinubu added: “The Authority has also resolved to raise our funding internally to finance the peace support operations in our community. Meanwhile, we have continued to monitor the transition programmes in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.”

President Tinubu recounted that during the recently concluded ECOWAS Summit in Bissau, West African leaders resolved to maintain engagement with Mali and Burkina Faso to assiduously work towards the implementation of the 24-month transition calendars agreed with ECOWAS.

To assist Burkina Faso and Mali in defending their territories from terrorists, he said ECOWAS had decided to provide support for their security agencies.

He appealed to international partners to provide the necessary support that will ensure the restoration of democratic order in these West African countries.

On trade, President Tinubu said ECOWAS had achieved the Free Trade Area and was working on establishing the Customs Union and Common Market.

However, he expressed concern about the low level of intra-community trade among member-states, noting that the European Union (EU) remains the major trading partner for the region, followed by Asia, North America, and the rest of Africa.

Highlighting efforts made by ECOWAS to consolidate the gains of its trade liberalisation scheme and support the implementation of the AfCFTA, he said the ECOWAS Commission had been assisting member-states in the negotiations, ratification, and implementation of the AfCFTA.

He noted that 13 of the 15 ECOWAS member-states have ratified the agreement.

On the free movement of persons, President Tinubu said ECOWAS had commenced action towards the implementation of the Harmonized Visa-Regime (ECOVISA) to facilitate the free movement of non-ECOWAS citizens.

On regional infrastructure development, President Tinubu reaffirmed ECOWAS’ focus on building regional infrastructure, including the Lagos-Abidjan Corridor Highway, to promote economic activities and integration.

He added: “The Feasibility and Preliminary Design and Studies show a significant investment cost of nearly US$15 billion for the whole highway with an average economic rate of return of 15 per cent per annum. 

“In the same vein, preparations are underway for the development of the other corridors, namely the Abidjan-Praia-Dakar.”

On intra-regional cooperation, the President said a joint border post between Nigeria and Cameroon was recently commissioned and handed over in November 2022 to the authorities of the two countries.

He described the project as a bridge between ECOWAS and ECCAS (Economic Community of Central African States) and a solid foundation for future cooperation and integration between the regions and ultimately the African continent.

President Tinubu also provided an update on the energy sector, expressing delight that several generation and interconnection projects had been implemented within the region.

According to him, with the completion of the electric interconnection between Cote d’Ivoire-Liberia-Sierra Leone- Guinee (1,300 km) and between Senegal-The Gambia-Guinee Bissau and Guinee (1,700 km), all the 15 countries in West Africa have now been interconnected.

He said: “The completion of the Information and Coordination Centre of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) will enable member-states to buy and sell electricity in the region as this centre will act as a regional system operator within the framework of the regional electricity market.”

The ECOWAS chairperson also provided updates on investment promotion and the ECOWAS Cybersecurity Agenda to combat cybercrime and improve cybersecurity capabilities in member states