The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria for his support of regional integration and security.
President, ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, said this at the First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament on Monday.
“Permit me to begin by expressing our deep appreciation and gratitude to His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for his immense support to our regional integration and security.
“Under President Buhari’s watch, Nigeria’s longstanding and traditional leadership in ECOWAS has been taken to a new level, with respect to mediation, peacekeeping, regional health, security and development of our Community Institutions.”
Touray also lauded President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau, Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
He acknowledged the president for his leadership and dynamism in the conduct of the affairs of the community, and support provided to the institutions of the community.
He, however, expressed concern over insecurity in parts of Northeast Nigeria, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, noting that it has resulted in targeted attacks against both military personnel and civilians.
He called for a regional adoption of a multifaceted and coordinated approach, and resources to eradicate the scourge.
He said the regional bloc had been mobilising international support for Burkina Faso and Mali to fight terrorism and address humanitarian crises.
Touray said that ECOWAS was deploying all resources to ensure enhanced stability, security and resilience in member states.
Meanwhile, he commended Nigeria for its political maturity in organising peaceful presidential and legislative elections.
He congratulated the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinub, and reiterated the community’s readiness to work closely with him on matters affecting the region.
He also said the ECOWAS was deploying the necessary electoral assistance for the legislative elections in Guinea Bissau, and the Presidential elections in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
“We recently sent fact-finding missions to examine the state of preparations for the elections in the two countries.
“Based on the outcome of this Mission, ECOWAS will provide its traditional support for the organisation of the next elections,’’ he said.
Justice Edward Asante, President of the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, said the court was charged with ensuring the observance of law and justice in the interpretation and application of the Treaty, Protocols and Conventions.
Asante also said the court had a record indicating that 106 of its judgments had not been enforced by member states, while another 11 were outstanding against ECOWAS institutions.
“In the spirit of deepening relations between our two institutions, the interest of the community will be better served if we work together to secure a significant improvement in the level of enforcement of the decisions of the court because of the inherent benefits to our democratic journey,’’ he said. (NAN)
