In Inaugural Address at AU, Tinubu Affirms Africa’s Unity, Strength 

.Rejects notion of new scramble for continent

.Says war and violence will impede economic integration 

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

President Bola Tinubu at his maiden appearance at the African Union’s mid-year meeting in Nairobi, Kenya on Sunday spoke glowingly about the continent and affirmed Africa’s unity and strength.

He also strongly rejected the notion of a new scramble for Africa warning that past plundering and exploitation of the continent should remain in the past and never be repeated.

Speaking at the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (5thMYCM) of the African Union (AU), the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Regional Mechanisms (RMs), and the African Union Member-States, the President announced plans to strengthen the ECOWAS Standby Force to deter coups and combat terrorism in the sub-region. 

President Tinubu, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, highlighted the progress made by ECOWAS in various sectors of its integration process, including trade, free movement of persons, investment promotion, infrastructure development, and security. 

In his statement entitled “Address on Status of Regional Integration in ECOWAS,” he emphasized the need for Africa to overcome its challenges and work towards a prosperous future, focusing on inclusive growth, good governance, and leveraging the opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Calling for good governance to ensure a prosperous future for Africa, free from the exploitations of the past, the President said: “As Africans, we forge ahead no matter the barriers thrust before us. 

“The world we inhabit is often unkind and uncertain. Past history and current global difficulties argue against our future success. 

”Lessons of the past few years teach us that the world economy can be disrupted in ways that halt progress and invite downturn. Our nations can suddenly find themselves in dire situations if we choose to be passive observers of our fate. 

”Such passivity does not commend itself to me. I will not listen to it. Neither should any African. The challenges we face mean that governance will be difficult. 

”They also mean that visionary good governance is necessary. Some observers assert a new scramble for Africa is afoot and it is much like the old scramble that plundered our continent.

“But, here and now,  let it be said to whomever the new scramblers might be that our continent may be old but our spirit is new.  And it is strong. The bad that took place in the past must stay there. It shall never be repeated.” 

Commenting on peace, security, and stability, President Tinubu acknowledged the challenges faced by the sub-region, including terrorism and anti-constitutional changes in government.

According to him: ”We sit here in meaningful discussion of vital economic matters. Yet, it will be impossible to bring full meaning to what we attempt unless we give due consideration to the instability and conflict that now scar many of our nations.

”The fullness of the integration we seek will elude us as long as several of our nations stand in the mist on violence and war. 

”The trade and commerce we talk of today refers to valued goods and services that improve life. The trade and commerce these nations suffer is of destruction and disorder that takes lives and steals opportunity.

”We cannot integrate Africa and attain the prosperity we seek while our nearby brothers and sisters suffer in pain and anguish, they should not suffer.

”We must advance as one continent toward peace and prosperity. 

”Otherwise, we risk the creation of two or more Africa, one a select group of nations moving steadily while the rest remain trapped in the age-old mire of poverty, conflict and lack of hope. 

”It is very clear that in the area of peace, security, and stability, our region is confronted with the twin challenges of terrorism and reversal of democratic gains through undemocratic changes of Government. 

”To address these challenges, the ECOWAS Authority, which I have the honour to chair, has given  directive regarding the enhancement of the role of the ECOWAS Standby Force for deployment to fight terrorism and undemocratic changes in government. 

”The Authority has also resolved to raise our own funding internally to finance the peace support operations in our community. Meanwhile, we have continued to monitor the transition programmes in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.

President Tinubu recounted that during the recently concluded ECOWAS Summit in Bissau, West African leaders resolved to maintain engagement with Mali, Burkina Faso, to assiduously work towards the implementation of the 24-month transition calendars agreed with ECOWAS. 

Nonetheless, to assist Burkina Faso and Mali in defending their territories from occupation by terrorists, he said, ECOWAS had decided to provide support for their security agencies. 

He appealed to international partners to assist to provide necessary support that will ensure the restoration of democratic order in these member-states. 

On trade, the President said ECOWAS had achieved the Free Trade Area and was working on establishing the Customs Union and Common Market. 

He, however, expressed concern about the low level of intra-community trade among member-states, noting that the European Union remains the major trading partner for the region, followed by Asia, North America, and the rest of Africa. 

Highlighting efforts made by ECOWAS to consolidate the gains of its trade liberalization scheme and support the implementation of the AfCFTA, the Nigerian leader said the ECOWAS Commission had been assisting member-states in the negotiations, ratification, and implementation of the AfCFTA. 

He noted that 13 out of the 15 ECOWAS member-states have ratified the agreement.

On free movement of persons, President Tinubu informed the meeting that ECOWAS had commenced action towards the implementation of the Harmonized Visa-Regime (ECOVISA) to facilitate the free movement of non-ECOWAS citizens. 

On regional infrastructure development, the President reaffirmed ECOWAS’ focus on building regional infrastructure, including the Lagos-Abidjan Corridor Highway, to promote economic activities and integration. 

”The Feasibility and Preliminary Design and Studies show a significant investment cost of nearly US$15 billion for the whole highway with an average economic rate of return of 15% per annum. In the same vein, preparations are under way for the development of the other corridors, namely the Abidjan-Praia-Dakar,” he said.

Regarding intra-regional cooperation, President Tinubu informed the meeting that a joint border post between Nigeria and Cameroon was recently inaugurated and handed over in November 2022 to the authorities of the two countries. 

He described the project as a bridge between ECOWAS and ECCAS and a solid foundation for future cooperation and integration between the regions and ultimately the African continent.

President Tinubu also provided an update on the energy sector, expressing delight that several generation and inter-connection projects had been implemented within the region. 

According to him, with the completion of the electric interconnection between Cote d’Ivoire-Liberia-Sierra Leone- Guinee (1,300 km) and between Senegal-The Gambia-Guinee Bissau and Guinee (1,700 km), all the 15 countries in West Africa have now been interconnected. 

”The completion of the Information and Coordination Centre of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) will enable member-states to buy and sell electricity in the region as this centre will act as a regional system operator within the framework of the regional electricity market,” he said.

The ECOWAS chairperson also provided updates on investment promotion, the ECOWAS Cybersecurity Agenda to combat cybercrime and improve cybersecurity capabilities in member-states.

As Chairperson of the ECOWAS, President Tinubu, who expressed his honour to participate, for the first time, in the Mid-Year Meeting of AU also commended the continental body for their efforts in strengthening collaboration and coordination between the continental and regional bodies.