ECOWAS Member States Vie To Host West African Health Organization Amid Agency Relocation.
Member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are engaged in a fierce competition to host the West African Health Organization (WAHO), as part of the ongoing relocation of ECOWAS agencies from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. This development follows the formal withdrawal of these three nations from the regional bloc, prompting a restructuring of agency locations.
The announcement was made by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, as ECOWAS gears up to mark its 50th anniversary on 28 May. Tuggar highlighted that the decision to relocate agencies stems from an agreement among member states, with the departure of Burkina Faso necessitating a new home for WAHO.
“There’s intense competition amongst member states to host WAHO,” Tuggar stated. “This is in line with the regulations that all countries agreed to.”
The minister’s comments follow an Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Accra, Ghana, where discussions focused on contingency measures and future relations with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, now part of the Alliance of Sahel States. Despite their exit, Tuggar expressed optimism about their potential return. “I recently visited Niger, and they indicated they have not ruled out rejoining ECOWAS under different circumstances,” he noted.
As ECOWAS prepares to celebrate its golden jubilee in Lagos, the birthplace of the organisation, Tuggar underscored the significance of the milestone. The anniversary events, to be held at the National Institute of International Affairs and EKO Hotel and Suites, will include discussions on ECOWAS’s achievements and challenges. “This is a moment to reaffirm the commitment of member states to ECOWAS after 50 years,” Tuggar said.
The minister highlighted key successes, including the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme, which has boosted intra-regional trade, and the development of vital trade routes such as the Abidjan-Lagos and Abidjan-Dakar corridors. He also praised the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT), which has streamlined customs processes and enhanced cross-border trade efficiency.
Despite recent political challenges in some member states, Tuggar remained confident in ECOWAS’s resilience and its ability to navigate the evolving regional landscape. The relocation of WAHO and other agencies marks a new chapter for the bloc as it continues to foster regional integration and cooperation.
As the 50th anniversary kickoff, ECOWAS stands at a pivotal moment, balancing the challenges of change with a renewed commitment to unity and progress across West Africa.
