Poor intra-regional trade threatens ECOWAS economy — Tinubu

Poor intra-regional trade threatens ECOWAS economy — Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu delivered a bold call to action at the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit 2025, urging regional leaders to accelerate economic integration or risk being left behind in the global economy.

Speaking as both Nigeria’s leader and Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Tinubu warned that the region’s potential remains untapped due to fragmentation, weak trade links, and a failure to leverage its vast resources strategically.

Tinubu’s address struck a sobering tone, emphasizing that West Africa—home to one of the world’s fastest-growing populations—must move beyond rhetoric and into decisive action.

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“Opportunity alone does not guarantee transformation. Opportunity is not destiny,” he declared.

“Intra-regional trade remains under 10%—a challenge we can no longer afford to ignore. The global economy will not wait for West Africa to get its act together, and neither should we.”

The Nigerian leader pointed to critical infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Abidjan Highway and the West African Power Pool as examples of progress but stressed that more must be done to harmonize policies, reduce trade barriers, and attract investment.

With over 60% of West Africa’s population under 25, Tinubu highlighted the urgent need for job creation, digital infrastructure, and skills development. He noted Nigeria’s investments in youth empowerment but warned that isolated efforts are insufficient.

“Our prosperity depends on regional supply chains, energy networks, and data frameworks,” he said.

“We must design them together—or they will collapse separately.”

A key focus of Tinubu’s speech was the need for West Africa to move up the value chain in its natural resource sector. The region holds vast deposits of lithium, cobalt, and other critical minerals powering the global green energy transition, yet most are exported raw.

“The era of pit-to-port must end,” Tinubu asserted. “We must turn our mineral wealth into domestic economic value—jobs, technology, and manufacturing. Being resource-rich is not enough; we must become value-chain smart.”

While acknowledging the role of governments in creating enabling environments, Tinubu emphasized that real transformation will come from private sector-led growth.

“Governments must provide law, order, and market-friendly policies, but it is entrepreneurs who will drive our economies forward,” he said.

The President challenged attendees to leave the summit with concrete deliverables, saying “Let us build a West Africa that is investable, competitive, and resilient,” Tinubu concluded. “This is the new West African proposition. Let us make it real, let us make it bankable.”

Economic analysts at the summit noted that Tinubu’s vision aligns with growing investor interest in West Africa but warned that political will and execution remain the biggest hurdles.

As the summit continues, attention will be on whether leaders can translate Tinubu’s urgent appeal into binding agreements—or if West Africa will remain a region of unfulfilled promise.