“THERE IS NO OBLIGATION TO JOIN ECOWAS – FEDERAL GOVERNMENT”

The Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, emphasized that ECOWAS membership is not obligatory. He referred to the exit of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from the regional bloc in January, citing their reservations.

Tuggar highlighted that the decision lies with the governments of these countries, stating, ‘ECOWAS is a union centered on the community of people, emphasizing citizens.’

During an interview with Al Jazeera in Doha, as part of a delegation led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who signed memorandums of understanding with Qatar, Tuggar clarified that there is no need to reinvent ECOWAS after the withdrawal announcement.

He explained the complexity of the process, indicating that it takes about a year and involves considerations such as passport issues, residency matters, and the potential economic impact on people moving between member states.

Tuggar also mentioned the humanitarian approach of ECOWAS, citing the removal of sanctions as a sign of goodwill. He noted that President Tinubu, as the ECOWAS Chairman, advocated for lifting sanctions for humanitarian reasons during Ramadan, leading to the reopening of borders.

Dalhatu Liman; From the News Source: DailyTrust