Nigeria’s leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is drawing to a close, as President Bola Tinubu prepares to conclude his second term as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government.
President Tinubu, initially elected ECOWAS Chairman on July 9, 2023, in Guinea-Bissau, and subsequently re-elected on July 7, 2024, in Abuja, will formally step down from his leadership role at a summit scheduled for this weekend at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The impending leadership transition was hinted at by Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, during the closing session of the 94th Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers on Friday night.
“As the agenda of the summit we endorsed indicated, the election of a new chair of authority may be my last council session as the chair of this council,” Tuggar stated.
Tuggar expressed his appreciation for the collaborative spirit displayed by his regional counterparts over the past two years and conveyed his hope for continued support for the incoming leadership.
“I remain very grateful for your unalloyed support for the successes we recorded thus far. I hope the same cooperation will be extended to whoever among us is taking over the leadership of this council,” the minister concluded.
