Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member states to enhance institutional frameworks, eliminate trade barriers, and ensure the free movement of goods and people across the West African corridor.
The Governor made this call during the opening of the 2025 ECOWAS Parliamentary Seminar in Lagos, titled “ECOWAS at 50 and Parliament at 25: Reflections of the Community Parliament Towards Attaining Regional Integration.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized the importance of tackling regional challenges, such as youth unemployment, climate change, and disintegration. He urged West African leaders to proactively promote peace and provide economic opportunities for young people to foster self-reliance.
He also highlighted Lagos’ and Nigeria’s long-standing leadership in regional peace and cooperation since the establishment of ECOWAS in May 1975, praising the community’s role in promoting integration and economic prosperity.
The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, reflected on the Community’s accomplishments over the past 50 years, underscoring the success in economic development and peacekeeping initiatives. She emphasized the significance of celebrating ECOWAS’ Golden Jubilee in Lagos, the birthplace of the Treaty of Lagos.
In his address, the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Barau Jibrin, Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President, highlighted the Community’s commitment to fostering dialogue and economic cooperation across West Africa.
