By Our Reporter
Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have signed a new bilateral agreement aimed at deepening economic and political integration, with both nations vowing to set an example for broader West African cooperation.
The agreement was signed Saturday at the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja, attended by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Benin’s President Patrice Talon.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who released the statement today in Abuja, described the agreement as a bold step toward regional unity, with top ministers from both countries formalising the pact.
“Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, signed on behalf of Nigeria,” Onanuga said. “They were joined by Benin’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Shegun Adjadi Bakari.”
According to the statement, President Talon called the deal a turning point for ECOWAS and a practical response to the regional body’s stagnation.
“President Tinubu and I have agreed on full integration between Benin and Nigeria. The responsibility now lies with our ministers to implement it,” Talon was quoted as saying. “Benin and Nigeria are more than twins, we are the same people.”
Talon criticised what he called administrative bottlenecks that have plagued key regional projects like the West African Gas Pipeline and the West African Power Pool, forcing Benin to import gas from Qatar.
“The road exists. But a businessman should be able to travel from Lagos to Abidjan in hours, not days without facing harassment at multiple checkpoints. That is not integration,” he added.
Talon warned that without real integration, West Africa’s persistent poverty would continue to threaten democracy and stability.
“Poverty is the main threat to democracy, security, and stability. If we do not address poverty through integration, our values will remain hollow,” he said.
The summit also featured statements from Presidents Joseph Boakai of Liberia and Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, who both stressed the importance of trade harmonization, regional monetary policy, and infrastructure.
Liberia’s President Boakai praised Tinubu for convening what he described as a “timely, strategic summit,” while President Bio reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s support for a single West African currency.
The summit was held in advance of the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, scheduled for Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Abuja.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and WTO Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also sent recorded statements supporting deeper regional integration.
