… appeals to Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso to return to ECOWAS for a united Africa
The Chairman, Executive Council of the ECOWAS Federation of Chamber of Mines (ECEFCOM), Mal. Sani Shehu has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his re–election as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Sani, who described Tinubu’s return to the saddle as a decision made in the best interest of the West African sub region, expressed confidence that it will lead to the realization of ECOWAS set goals especially the set goal of developing the economy of the sub region.
Sani, who was President of the Miners Association of Nigeria before his election as Chairman of ECEFCOM, called for a more united ECOWAS, and appealed to the federal governments of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to resolve the differences that led to the exit of the trio from ECOWAS, stating that the unity of the sub region should be prioritized and pursued.
While saying that countries in Southern Africa countries, the Latin American countries, and other countries have had reasons to form a block for the pursuit of their common interests, he emphasized the crucial importance of the unity of ECOWAS stressing that the absence of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the regional block does not augur well for the set goals of unity and economic development of the sub region.
“ECOWAS was created to facilitate the unified pursuit of the economic development of the West African sub region,” he said, adding that Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso must be encouraged to return to ECOWAS and work together with other members of the regional block to protect and promote the interest of the region.
“ECOWAS should be correctly understood as such block. ECOWAS member states should unite, they should wax stronger than ever before for their collective interest,” the ECEFCOM Chair stated.
“Therefore Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso are very important countries of ECOWAS. I appeal to them to return to ECOWAS and strengthen the regional body so that ECOWAS can be correctly understood as a political and economic block that can be respected.”
He explained that irrespective of the ideological differences that led to the exit of the trio from ECOWAS, the issue should be resolved in the interest of the people and of advancing the political and economic development of the sub region.
While saying that he made the call with the understanding that ECOWAS member states have substantial solid mineral resources that the world seriously needs, he underscored the need to protect the resources of the west African sub region form being plundered by unauthorized foreign investors, saying: “Chinese investors have almost invaded ECOWAS member states and there is need for ECOWAS member states to unite and form a unified mining policy that will address the unauthorized and uncontrolled influx of foreigners who plunder the mineral wealth of the continent.”
He explained that such a homogenous policy, if put in place and executed by ECOWAS member states, will do much to curtail the excesses of lawless foreign investors operating in the sub region.
