ECOWAS Ministers hold 89th Ordinary Session

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FILE PHOTO: An ECOWAS sitting

The ECOWAS Council of Ministers on Thursday commenced its 89th Ordinary Session in Abuja to discuss the many challenges confronting the sub-region.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Ministerial meeting will focus on strengthening governance and political stability in the sub-region, and address food insecurity, terrorism and extremism among other challenges.

Ms Suzi Barbosa, Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and Guinea Bissau’s Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the sub-region has been troubled by human and food insecurity, incessant coup d’états, climate change and other issues.

Barbosa said that the two-day session of the Council of ECOWAS Ministers seeks to come up with viable solutions which would be presented to the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.

“Similar to what has happened in other parts of the globe, the economies of the countries of our regional community have witnessed the regressive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine-Russia.

“I Would like to highlight the importance of the 89th Session of the Council of Ministers, which coincides with an important moment for the implementation of reforms that can guarantee efficient functioning and the effective use of the scarce resources available.

“In this way, we are invited to look at various projects, through various presentations of reports, and to assume the responsibility of agreeing on them the necessary guidelines in favour of the challenges we face.

“From the financial situation and fulfilment of our obligations through managing our resources and implementing infrastructure projects that catalyze economic growth and consequent human development,” Barbosa said.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada said that the Ordinary session of the Council of Ministers remains a veritable platform for reviewing the programmes of ECOWAS and brainstorming on thematic issues of the region.

Dada said that the Session also creates a platform for providing substantive advice to Heads of State and Government on the best way to advance collective aspiration of an ECOWAS of the people.

NAN reports that statutory appointees of ECOWAS Institutions; the new management of the ECOWAS Commission, and Heads of ECOWAS institutions also took their oath of office before the Judge of the ECOWAS Court of Justice.

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