Nigeria and the Republic of Benin on Saturday formalized an agreement aimed at strengthening bilateral integration and setting a benchmark for wider regional collaboration within ECOWAS.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Nigeria and the Republic of Benin formalized a historic bilateral agreement on Saturday aimed at deepening integration and serving as a model for broader ECOWAS cooperation. The signing took place during the maiden West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja and was witnessed by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Beninese counterpart, President Patrice Talon.

The agreement was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, alongside Benin’s Trade Minister, Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, and Foreign Affairs Minister, Shegun Adjadi Bakari.

President Talon described the deal as a bold step towards actionable and sustainable regional integration. “President Tinubu and I have agreed to pursue full integration between Benin and Nigeria. It’s now up to our ministers to implement this. We are more than just neighbours—we are one people. Let’s show the region that true integration is achievable,” he said.

He also used the summit to deliver a sobering assessment of the current state of ECOWAS, warning that the regional body is facing a crisis. “ECOWAS is supposed to be a model of integration, yet it is plagued by dysfunction,” Talon lamented. He pointed to the failed West African Gas Pipeline and the underperforming West African Power Pool as prime examples of regional projects crippled by bureaucracy and inefficiency.

Highlighting the practical consequences, Talon said Benin now imports gas from Qatar using a floating regasification unit because the regional pipeline has proven unreliable. On transportation, he criticized delays and harassment along the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor, saying: “A businessperson should be able to drive from Lagos to Abidjan in hours—not days. That’s what real integration looks like.”

He warned that the region’s biggest threat isn’t ideology or politics, but poverty. “Poverty is the most potent destabiliser of democracy and peace. If we don’t tackle it through regional collaboration, our values will remain hollow,” he said.

Talon also touched on shifting global trade patterns, referencing former U.S. President Donald Trump’s protectionist stance. “That trade war was a reminder: countries act in their own interest. Africa must start doing the same.”

He called on ECOWAS leaders to move beyond rhetoric: “Integration must be tangible. If we can’t create wealth and opportunity, then democracy and liberty are just empty words.”

National leaders and representatives of several West African states also delivered statements ahead of the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government scheduled for Sunday, June 22.

President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone emphasized unlocking regional economic potential amidst rising global uncertainty. He urged implementation of key trade frameworks like the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and Common External Tariff to harmonize policies and stimulate growth.

On monetary policy, Bio advocated for a single regional currency to lower exchange costs, boost price stability, and improve competitiveness.

Liberian President Joseph Boakai reaffirmed his country’s commitment to ECOWAS and the Mano River Union, praising President Tinubu for convening a “strategic and timely summit.” He noted that despite the scale of regional challenges, they are “not insurmountable.”

The event also featured recorded messages from UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, both of whom stressed the need for decisive action toward economic transformation and sustainable development in West Africa.