Nigeria and Benin Seal Pact to Boost Regional Integration at WAES Summit
At the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja, Nigeria and Benin signed a landmark agreement to deepen bilateral integration and set a model for ECOWAS cooperation. Presidents Bola Tinubu and Patrice Talon led the ceremony, with officials from both countries putting pen to paper.
President Talon called the pact a bold step toward true regional unity, urging ministers to fast-track implementation. He stressed that Nigeria and Benin are “more than twins—we are one people,” and highlighted the need to revive stalled ECOWAS projects like the West African Gas Pipeline and Power Pool.
Talon also pointed to border delays and trade harassment as barriers to smooth regional commerce, warning that poverty threatens democracy and stability in West Africa. He urged leaders to turn promises into real economic opportunities.
Other West African leaders, including Liberia’s Joseph Boakai and Sierra Leone’s Julius Maada Bio, echoed calls for deeper integration and cooperation amid global challenges. UN and WTO leaders also sent supportive messages.
The ECOWAS Heads of State session follows, aiming to push these integration goals forward.
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