Foreign Minister Ambassador Yusuf Taggar is said to be unfortunate that the US proposed visa restrictions on citizens of West African countries.
Speaking at the opening of the 54th mediation and security board at the Minister's level in Abuja on Wednesday, Tagger urged the US not to reject the region, highlighting the great value in West Africa providing a global community.
Reports show that former President Donald Trump is considering new travel hurdles for Nigerians and other citizens of West African and African countries, and affected countries are expected to comply with the new State Department requirements within 60 days.
Tuggar, who also chairs the mediation and security board, said rather than imposing restrictions, global superpowers like the United States should explore meaningful partnerships and dealing with sub-regions.
He said, “So, if he didn't mention the obvious recent decision by the US government to include all ECOWAS countries in visa restrictions (if Togo was on previous listings), he said: trading with the US, but visa restrictions were a non-tariff barrier in this part of the world, and were part of the international trading system, even before the modern national system.
“ECOWAS countries and the US have rare opportunities to create partnerships based on needs principles.
“We are also a strategic alternative to more distant, politically different energy producers. So we trade for prosperity. The only problem is with whom will we take up opportunities in our local area by allowing government officials, technocrats, business executives and entrepreneurs to freely travel between transactions?
Tagger also serves as the chairman of the mediation and security board.
Emphasizing the importance of ensuring peace in the region, Tuggar said: “In these challenging times, the ability to work together, cooperate and take critical action to advance peace, security and excellent governance across our region.”
Therefore, he said the meeting will deliberate on many important issues that directly address the stability, cohesion and resilience of our region.
The conference is also expected to deliberate on the trends and developments of the Republic of Guinea's transition process, as well as the latest information on the preparations for presidential and parliamentary elections of the other two member states in the last quarter of the year.
The conference will examine other current challenges, including maritime security, terrorism and the development of organized crime across borders. Tuggar also noted that the Board will consider key factors in its efforts to ensure operational preparation and sustainability of regional peace support construction.
It is also expected that issues in the humanitarian and early warning areas will be considered.
On his part, Alieu Omar Tourey, president of the ECOWAS Commission, said in his remarks that local agencies are making progress in strengthening local peace and security.
He also listed some of the efforts the region has made in this regard, including the ECOWAS Standby Force Logistics Concept and the ECOWAS Logistics Depot policy. Supplementary Acts Related to the West African Police Information Systems (WAPIS) Regional Platform.
He also said the meeting will share updates on the establishment of national early warning and response centres, response to the local humanitarian situation and implement measures against local money laundering and terrorist financing.
Turay also said that the Thay Tye Regional Body was able to change the story surrounding the exits of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
“After some difficult times over the past two years, we have successfully changed the story. We have launched direct consultations to protect community outcomes and build realistic and fruitful future collaborations in a variety of areas, including security and development. In recent years.”
