Senate President Godswill Akpabio has spearheaded a renewed effort towards greater West African integration, calling for coordinated regional strategies as Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire solidify their bilateral and multilateral partnerships at the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Istanbul, Turkey.
According to a statement from his Media Office on Sunday, Akpabio emphasized this necessity during a significant meeting with Patrick Jérôme Achi, the Speaker of the Ivorian National Assembly. Both leaders underscored the critical need for a unified regional bloc to effectively navigate global fragmentation and economic challenges.
Akpabio identified Côte d’Ivoire as a historically important partner and cautioned that a lack of integration could expose the region to new forms of neo-colonialism. He asserted that only a consolidated West Africa could fully leverage opportunities in trade, political cooperation, and cultural exchange.
The two speakers agreed on the importance of strengthening the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and giving priority to the reintegration of Sahel nations, viewing regional cohesion as vital for economic sustainability and political stability.
A central focus of their discussions was the Abidjan–Accra–Lagos Coastal Highway, a key infrastructure initiative poised to revolutionize transportation and commerce across the subregion.
This corridor, connecting major economic centres and serving over 300 million people, is projected to reduce the travel time between Lagos and Abidjan from three days to approximately eight hours upon completion.
The highway is designed as a modern dual-carriage superhighway and will operate under a supranational legal framework, aiming to eliminate transit delays through harmonised cross-border regulations. So far, five ECOWAS member states have enacted the necessary legislation to facilitate smooth transit along the route.
Akpabio described the project as a significant development, stating, “The highway will act as a major economic artery for West Africa, and I commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support of this initiative.”
Speaker Achi, meanwhile, shifted the discussion to economic strategy, arguing that sustainable growth should be propelled by the private sector, with governments providing the necessary policy direction and legislative backing.
He advocated for reforms designed to stimulate investment, expand market access, and address unemployment, especially among the continent’s burgeoning youth population.
Achi highlighted peace, education, and economic opportunities as fundamental elements for development, warning that Africa risked stagnation if these core areas were overlooked.
Both leaders acknowledged existing barriers to integration, including linguistic differences, inadequate infrastructure, fragmented markets, and the emigration of skilled professionals.
They urged African nations to better capitalize on their human and natural resources, noting that the continent’s vast wealth remains significantly underutilized.
Regarding security, they proposed the adoption of technology-driven border management, improved intelligence sharing, and coordinated regional surveillance to protect open border policies.
Concerns were also raised about emerging threats like digital and economic recolonization, prompting calls for proactive investments in technology and innovation to safeguard Africa’s future.
The meeting concluded with a firm commitment to enhance parliamentary cooperation, align legislative frameworks, and strengthen oversight of regional projects, according to the statement.
Akpabio and Achi affirmed that Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire are crucial to West Africa’s advancement, expressing confidence that collaborative leadership between the two nations could unlock unprecedented regional economic growth.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!