The Economic Community of West African States says it is facing integration challenges and seeks to address them by strengthening unity, solidarity, and fraternity within the bloc.

Omar Touray, President of the commission, expressed the fear and plan of action at the 37th ordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Administration and Finance Committee held at the commission’s headquarters on Sunday in Abuja.

The AFC’s crucial meeting was held to evaluate the mid-term implementation of the decisions, programmes, projects, and activities of ECOWAS institutions.

Mr Touray said the mid-term implementation of the programmes and activities of the community’s institutions aimed to evaluate ECOWAS’ challenging financial situation.

He said the meeting would also delve into how to minimise the negative effects of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger’s withdrawal from ECOWAS to preserve the gains of 50 years of integration.

The president stated that the AFC session would also update member states on the progress made regarding the recruitment status within the commission’s institutions.

Mr Touray said one lesson learnt from ECOWAS’ recent 50th anniversary and Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger withdrawal was the need to speed up the institutional, organisational, political and security reforms.

He stated that it was in light of the intended reforms that the commission, in accordance with the decisions of the Heads of State and Government, would soon convene a summit on the future of ECOWAS.

Nazifi Darma, ECOWAS commissioner for internal services, said the evolving dynamics of global aid and financing necessitated the commission’s recent decision to procure new communications infrastructure.

He, therefore, urged member states to rethink resource generation and utilisation, adding that the newly acquired equipment would help to modernise the commission’s communication operations.

“Donor support is diminishing in the new world order. We must begin to explore indigenous, creative approaches to finance and service delivery within the region,” he said.

Olawale Awe, AFC chairman, emphasised the need for proactive measures to address pressing issues such as staffing gaps across ECOWAS institutions and the community levy following the Sahel State’s withdrawal.

“We must act decisively to fill these institutional voids to maintain the momentum of our mandate. The commission cannot afford stagnation at a time when the region demands progress,” Mr Awe said.

(NAN)