By Obaike Odihue
Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, has called on member countries of the regional body to, as a matter of necessity, ratify and fully implement the ECOWAS Protocol against Corruption.
The move aims to stamp out corruption in the sub region by taking deliberate and concrete actions.
Accodingly, the Nigerian leader leader called for a shift from mere commitment and intention by ECOWAS member states to concrete action by implementing the anti-graft protocol, maintaining that the region’s future hinges on its capacity to build governance structures that are not just transparent, accountable, and efficient, but also serve the interests of the people.
Tinubu made the call on Monday at the 6th Annual General Assembly of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) held at the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja.
He also announced Nigeria’s donation of an office building for the permanent headquarters of NACIWA in the country.
Represented at the event by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu said: “In recognition of NACIWA’s pivotal role in our regional anti-corruption efforts, I am proud to announce that the Nigerian government has donated a property to serve as NACIWA’s permanent headquarters.
“This gesture underscores our commitment to strengthening NACIWA’s institutional capacity and providing a solid operational foundation. As we deliberate on implementing the ECOWAS Protocol against Corruption, I urge all member states to renew their commitment to this cause”.
The ECOWAS Chairman urged member countries of the regional body to move beyond rhetoric and focus on concrete actions targeted at harmonizing their “legal frameworks to close loopholes exploited by corrupt individuals.”
He listed other tangible actions required to include enhancing cross-border cooperation in investigations and asset recovery, investing in innovative technologies to detect and prevent corrupt practices, promoting transparency in public procurement and resource management, engaging civil society and the media as partners in the region’s anti-corruption efforts, and strengthening the independence and capacity of its national anti-corruption institutions.
Demanding full implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol against Corruption, President Tinubu stated: “The task before us is enormous, but so significant is our collective resolve by working together, sharing best practices, and leveraging our diverse strengths, we can create a formidable bulwark against corruption in West Africa.
“All member states must ratify and fully implement the ECOWAS Protocol against Corruption. Let us move from commitment to action, from intention to implementation. The future of our region depends on our ability to create transparent, accountable, and efficient governance structures that serve the interests of our people”.
The Nigerian leader highlighted the dangers of corruption, maintaining that it has remained “one of the most significant obstacles to the progress and prosperity of our nations.
“It (corruption) undermines the very fabric of our societies, erodes public trust, and impedes the equitable distribution of resources. As leaders, we are responsible for confronting this challenge head-on with unwavering resolve and concerted action,” he added.
Outlining the steps he has taken to tackle corruption in Nigeria since he assumed office as President last year, the ECOWAS Chairman said he strengthened “all the anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria by not interfering in their activities and ensuring that they are adequately funded.
“I have also encouraged them to operate within the ambit of the law. This is a template which I recommended to other states within the region,” he further noted.
President Tinubu reaffirmed what he described as Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to NACIWA’s success “and the broader anti-corruption agenda within ECOWAS,” assuring that working together in synergy will enable member countries to “build more vital institutions, foster regional unity, and pave the way for a prosperous and corruption-free West Africa.”
Earlier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, noted that there is an urgent need for regional and global cooperation in the battle against corruption, describing it as a cancer that threatens Africa’s stability and development.
