The Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria commended the Economic Community of West African States for its resilience and notable achievements over the past 50 years despite numerous challenges.

In a congratulatory message marking ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary on Wednesday in Lagos, ARCAN’s national president, Joe Keshi, highlighted the organisation’s journey since its founding by the Treaty of Lagos on May 28, 1975.

Mr Keshi paid tribute to the founding fathers, led by then-head of state Yakubu Gowon and then-President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo, praising their vision and commitment.

He also acknowledged the roles of successive heads of state and governments in sustaining ECOWAS’s mission.

“The 2021 African Integration Report ranked ECOWAS as the best performing among Africa’s eight regional economic communities,” Mr Keshi noted. “Key achievements include the 1979 Protocol on Free Movement, which allows citizens visa-free travel and the right to stay in other member states for up to 90 days.”

He added, “Additionally, the ECOWAS passport and Biometric Identification Card Scheme have further facilitated regional mobility. The ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme promotes duty-free trade within a regional market of approximately 446 million people, boosting economic integration and cooperation among member states.

“Infrastructure successes such as the Lagos-Abidjan Highway, the West African Gas Pipeline, and sustainable energy projects were also highlighted.”

Mr Keshi acknowledged ongoing challenges, including security issues, underdevelopment, poverty, governance, and adherence to democratic norms.

He recalled ECOWAS’s decade-long efforts to restore peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as its ongoing conflict resolution initiatives. He lamented the withdrawal of three founding members due to disagreements over ECOWAS’s opposition to unconstitutional changes of government, as enshrined in the 2001 Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

Mr Keshi said that, despite the challenges, ARCAN was confident that ECOWAS was well-positioned to navigate global changes and fulfil the aspirations of its citizens.

He called for increased efforts to strengthen regional integration through infrastructure development, trade expansion, financial services, and industrialisation.

“ARCAN hopes the coming decades will be the ECOWAS decade, with every citizen contributing to this goal. We urge ECOWAS leaders to intensify efforts to achieve the organisation’s objectives and ensure the security, prosperity, and well-being of all its citizens,” he added.

(NAN)