In a historic move aimed at redefining regional integration in West Africa, Nigeria and the Republic of Benin on Saturday signed a landmark agreement to deepen bilateral cooperation and set a precedent for broader collaboration across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
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The signing ceremony, held during the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja, was witnessed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria and his Beninois counterpart, President Patrice Talon.
The agreement, officials say, will serve as a template for actionable economic and political integration in the sub-region.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, signed on behalf of Nigeria.
Representing Benin were the Minister of Industry and Trade, Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Shegun Adjadi Bakari.
According to a statement by Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Talon, while speaking at the event, hailed the agreement as a bold step forward.
“President Tinubu and I have agreed on full integration between Benin and Nigeria. The responsibility now lies with our ministers to implement it. Benin and Nigeria are more than twins—we are the same people. Let us show the region that integration is possible,” he said.
Talon called for urgent reforms within ECOWAS, warning that the regional bloc was facing a crisis of credibility and functionality.
“ECOWAS is a perfect example of regional integration. Unfortunately, our ECOWAS is in crisis right now,” he declared.
He cited the failure of key regional infrastructure projects, including the West African Gas Pipeline, which he said had been rendered ineffective due to bureaucratic inertia.
“It is ridiculous. This failure of regional cooperation wastes resources and undermines integration,” Talon said, revealing that Benin was now importing gas from Qatar via a floating storage and regasification unit.
Similarly, he lamented the poor performance of the West African Power Pool.
“We invested heavily in this infrastructure. But it is not functioning as expected. Unless we act decisively, I’m not confident it ever will,” he added.
Turning his focus to logistical bottlenecks along the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor, Talon criticised the persistent border harassment and delays that plague cross-border travel.
“The road exists. But a businessman should be able to travel from Lagos to Abidjan in hours—not days—without facing harassment at multiple checkpoints. That is not integration,” he stressed.
The Beninois leader warned that poverty remained the most potent threat to democracy and stability in the region.
“Poverty is the main threat to democracy, security, and stability. If we do not address poverty through integration, our values will remain hollow,” he said.
Invoking global trade tensions, Talon cited the United States’ protectionist shift under President Donald Trump as a wake-up call for African nations.
“The trade war should remind us that nations act in their interest, and so should we. At some point, we may even have to thank President Trump for that reminder,” he said.
Talon urged his fellow West African leaders to abandon lip service and take concrete steps to deliver economic opportunity for their people.
“If we cannot create wealth and opportunity, all our other values—democracy, liberty—cannot be sustained. Integration must be real. Integration must be delivered,” he concluded.
The summit, a precursor to the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government scheduled for Sunday at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, featured remarks from several West African leaders and global officials.
Liberian President Joseph Boakai reaffirmed his country’s support for ECOWAS and regional bodies like the Mano River Union in reducing trade barriers and harmonising economic policies.
He commended President Tinubu, Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, for what he described as a “timely, strategic summit.”
“This summit offers a vital platform for reflection, coordination, and renewed commitment to the economic transformation of our subregion. While the challenges in the region are complex, they are not insurmountable”, Boakai said.
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio called for a deeper, more strategic push for economic integration amid global uncertainty and domestic vulnerabilities.
“This potential must be unlocked through strategic integration, particularly amid rising public debt, climate vulnerability, food insecurity, and geopolitical uncertainty,” he said.
Bio emphasised the need for political will to drive regional trade initiatives such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the Common External Tariff.
“Trade integration must start with a strong political commitment,” he noted.
He also expressed Sierra Leone’s support for a regional single currency to improve business confidence and reduce transaction costs.
“To deepen intra-regional competitiveness, we must accelerate progress toward monetary union. A single currency would reduce exchange rate costs, support price stability, and improve the business environment”, Bio said.
The summit also featured recorded messages from UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and World Trade Organisation Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
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