FREETOWN — Nigeria has called for tighter financial discipline and cost-cutting measures within ECOWAS, warning against waste amid rising economic pressures across member states.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the call while leading Nigeria’s delegation to the 96th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Details of the meeting were contained in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and signed by its Spokesperson, Mr. Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, on Friday.
Addressing the council, Enikanolaiye stressed the need for prudent resource management despite improved revenue performance in the first half of 2026.
“There is a need to strengthen financial management, enhance accountability and adopt cost-saving measures to avoid wastage of the Community’s resources,” he said.
He also urged ECOWAS institutions to improve budget implementation and ensure that available funds are deployed efficiently to deliver measurable results for citizens in the region.
Beyond financial issues, the minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for regional economic integration, backing initiatives such as the West Africa Integration and Investment Summit (WAIIS) to mobilise private sector investment.
On cultural cooperation, he highlighted ongoing efforts to recover Africa’s stolen artefacts, noting Nigeria’s recent success in securing the return of 23 artefacts from Switzerland.
Enikanolaiye further commended the ECOWAS Commission for its interim report on the state of the community and called for sustained collaboration among member states to strengthen regional stability and development.
The meeting forms part of ongoing efforts by ECOWAS to address economic challenges, deepen integration and promote sustainable growth across West Africa.
