President Bola Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu yesterday concluded his tenure as Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, handing over leadership to President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone at the bloc’s 67th Ordinary Session held at Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

Reflecting on his one-year stewardship since assuming the role in July 2023, Tinubu described his service as an honour and reaffirmed his commitment to the region’s future. “I now hand over the mantle of leadership to my great friend and dear brother, His Excellency, President Julius Bio of Sierra Leone,” he said.

Before stepping down, Tinubu called on ECOWAS leaders to urgently operationalise the long-proposed ECOWAS Standby Force. First proposed in April 2024 as part of a broader regional counter-terrorism and security initiative, the force has yet to become operational.

“I am a little bit worried about the slow pace of its activation, which is taking longer than desired,” Tinubu said, stressing that insecurity in the Sahel and across West Africa demands immediate and united action.

He warned that terrorism, ransom-taking, and illegal mining continue to fund and sustain violent networks and reiterated the importance of a Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre to coordinate intelligence, operations, and capacity building across the region.

During his chairmanship, Tinubu also oversaw the completion of the ECOWAS Military Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, and signed Nigeria’s Sixth Agreement with the African Union to support regional transport infrastructure, including sea-lift and air-lift operations.

Diplomatically, he noted efforts to re-engage member states Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which withdrew from ECOWAS following military coups. “I deployed all diplomatic means to engage and dialogue with our brothers… I am confident that before too long, they may return to the family,” Tinubu said.

Beyond security, Tinubu urged his successor and regional leaders to prioritise economic integration by empowering the private sector, removing trade barriers, and completing key infrastructure projects such as the West African Gas Pipeline, the Power Pool, and the Abidjan–Lagos Highway.

In his acceptance remarks, President Bio thanked Tinubu for his leadership and acknowledged the regional challenges ahead. He pledged to continue promoting peace, accountability, and democratic governance. “The democratic space is under strain… Yet, across West Africa, citizens—especially our youth—are demanding not just elections, but also accountability, transparency, and a fair stake in national life,” Bio said.

As the region grapples with threats of terrorism, political instability, and economic inequality, both leaders agreed that bold, collective action is needed to secure and develop West Africa’s future.