President Bola Tinubu has been re-elected as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government for a second one-year term.
The unanimous decision was made by fellow Heads of Government at the 65th Ordinary Session held at the State House in Abuja on Sunday.
Tinubu’s first term was set to expire on July 9, 2024.
In his acceptance speech, the President said he would focus on consolidating the values of democracy and upholding the interest of the regional body, which will clock 50 years in 2025.
He appointed the President of Senegal, His Excellency, Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and the President of Togo, His Excellency, Mr. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, as Special Envoys to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic.
“I have appointed the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to please become our Special Envoy to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic, along with the President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé, to do around the clock work with our brothers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic, and to coordinate with me and the ECOWAS Commission, where necessary.
“I have accepted to continue the service to the great members and the great minds that are committed to democratic values and our journey in the region.
“I will continue to serve our interest and build on democratic values and the structure that we inherited. Thank you very much,’’ the President said.
At the summit, Tinubu also appealed to member states to provide financial support in the battle against terrorism in the region.
Tinubu stressed the need for both political will and substantial financial resources to combat terrorism through the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF). He urged member states to follow through on commitments made by their defence and finance ministers to stabilize the region.
“We must therefore ensure that we meet the expectations and recommendations set forth by our ministers of defence and finance in order to counter the insecurity and stabilise our region. Member states must make extra commitments on providing resources for stabilising the region,” Tinubu said.
May God Almighty lead and guide ECOWAS through, and provide our region with abundant wisdom and grand leadership qualities to galvanize resources and foster unity among member states.