Abuja: The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, has reiterated Nigeria’s commitment towards working closely with the diplomatic community to bolster the inclusive economic integration of West Africa. Tuggar made this known on Tuesday in Abuja, during the stakeholders’ engagement with West African Ambassadors against the backdrop of the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the summit, scheduled to take place from June 20 to 21, 2025, in Abuja, is an initiative of President Bola Tinubu. Tuggar emphasized the importance of mutual interest, collective prosperity, and regional unity, extending appreciation for the active role embassies continue to play in fostering cooperation, trade, and diplomatic solidarity among nations.
The minister explained that the summit will be centered on a high-level, non-political, and inclusive platform for West African economic integration. It aims to bring together Heads of State, Ministers, private sector leaders, development partners, youth innovators, and entrepreneurs, providing a forum to articulate common development priorities, promote scalable investments, and unlock youth-driven innovation.
Tuggar highlighted that the decision to convene WAES outside the traditional ECOWAS framework was intentional, emphasizing the economic need to foster integration among all West African states, regardless of current regional affiliations. He called the summit a rare opportunity for West African countries to take ownership of their economic destiny by confronting persistent barriers to intra-regional trade, fragmented infrastructure, and inconsistent regulatory environments.
He further urged the ambassadors to encourage participation from their respective Heads of State, Ministers of Trade, Finance, and Foreign Affairs, as well as to engage their national business communities, chambers of commerce, and startup ecosystems. Tuggar stated the importance of shared responsibility in ensuring West Africa’s economic relevance, strategic coordination, and global competitiveness. The minister concluded by expressing the desire for full representation and active participation in the summit, emphasizing the resolve of a collective voice and diversity of contributions.