Nigeria has settled its outstanding debt to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) amounting to ₦85 billion, according to Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission.
Touray revealed this during the opening of the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja. He noted that while member states have been slow in remitting their levies, Nigeria, under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, has cleared all its dues from 2023 to date.
This marks the first time in 19 years that Nigeria has fully paid 100% of its ECOWAS levy.
Touray commended President Tinubu and the Federal Government of Nigeria for their consistent support of the regional body’s efforts. He also acknowledged the contributions of Ghana’s outgoing President, Nana Akufo-Addo, who is set to leave office on January 7, 2025.
“This needs to be reversed. The good news is that for the first time in 19 years, Nigeria has decided to pay 100 per cent of its community levy from 2023. I am therefore pleased to announce that on Friday, December 13th, Nigeria paid ₦85 billion and 54 million representing 100 per cent of the 2023 levy and the levy of 2024 up to July 2024.
“We all agree that this payment underscores the leadership and commitment of President Ahmed Tinubu, the government and the people of Nigeria to our community.
At a more personal level, it represents a mark of confidence on the management that I have been privileged to lead since 2022. My colleague and I are deeply grateful and I thank you for your attention,” Touray stated.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu called for cooperation among the ECOWAS member states in protecting their citizens and providing an enabling environment for the citizens to thrive.
He said raising the living standards of the citizens is an obligation on the part of the citizens.
Tinubu noted that the economic cooperation have been bolstered by the various ECOWAS policies. He commended Ghana and Senegal for holding successful presidential and parliamentary elections respectively.
The Nigerian leader urged the countries in the region to learn from the examples.
Describing President Akufo-Addo as ‘Mr Democrat,’ President Tinubu commended his Ghanaian counterpart for his selfless leadership and for allowing the will of the people to prevail.
Akufo-Addo is attending the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government for the last time as President of Ghana.
More to follow…