Tuggar urges ECOWAS Members to detach from colonial masters

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has stressed importance of members of Economic Community of West African States to avoid neo-colonialism.

Tuggar stressed the need to detach from colonial masters.

This is as ECOWAS Foreign Affairs Ministers converge on Abuja to discuss issues on trade, industry and investment, with the aim of strengthening regional market and economic integration.

Speaking at the opening of the 94th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Tuggar said the meeting is another milestone in the region’s journey towards attaining objectives of the regional economic community.

Tuggar, who chairs ECOWAS Council of Ministers, stressed that “if you stay alone and isolated from your neighbours, you remain dependent on the former colonial master, forever consigning yourself to being an exporter of agricultural cash crops and raw materials to the metropolis.

“Conversely, if you trade freely with your neighbours and develop infrastructure jointly to strengthen trade, you develop indigenous industries, collective self-reliance and take control.

“Given that we have a youthful population, I feel it is necessary to remind ourselves that ECOWAS and Regional Integration in Africa was borne out of our yearning for economic decolonisation.”

He said deliberations “will consider and reflect on reports and proposals on thematic and sectoral matters central to development and stability of our region.

“These include critical issues on economic integration, infrastructure, health, education, agriculture and institutional matters aimed at strengthening our community.”

Tuggar stressed “the agenda before us is extensive and multifaceted, reflecting complex realities of our region and institutional demands of our integration process.”

He ended by saying members should approach the talks with collegiality, compromise and flexibility with a vision for a united regional economic community…’’

“This session should be defined not only by the depth of our deliberations, but also by the courage of our decisions. I encourage us all to engage in open, constructive and foresighted discussions. Let us draw on our diverse expertise, share best practices and work collaboratively to ensure that the decisions we make here will translate into meaningful outcomes for our member states and the citizens of our community.”