Critical issues relating to economic integration, infrastructure development, health, education and agriculture are some of the issues topping agenda at the opening of the 94th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Abuja yesterday.

Chairman of Council and Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, who declared the meeting opened, noted that manifold institutional matters aimed at strengthening the Economic Community of West African States would be deliberated upon. He, however, called for unity among Africans, warning against dependence on outsiders.

According to him, it is more rewarding for African countries to trade freely among neighbouring countries to jointly develop infrastructure and strengthen trade in the West African region, rather than isolation, which makes them continually dependent on former colonial masters.

In his remarks, the President, ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, said the ministers would be presented with the outcome of the joint meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry, who met recently to examine and validate the key regional instruments, as well as discuss the regional and continental trade, industry and investment promotion.

He noted that the ministers had examined the Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) within the framework of ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement AfCFTA.

“The non-tariff barriers have become a perennial obstacle to boosting regional trade, investment, industrialisation, competitiveness and economic growth of our region. Despite numerous initiatives, including the Presidential Task Force on Trade Liberation Scheme, the problem persists.”

Regarding security and political stability, Touray said the community had secured an understanding with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger on the need to work together to build confidence to collectively confront terrorism and violent extremism.