Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has called for robust socio-economic collaboration among West African countries to harness the region’s collective potential and deliver long-term economic transformation.
Speaking at a Private Sector Roundtable held at the Metropolitan Club in Victoria Island, Lagos, the minister emphasized that while Nigeria holds significant economic influence in the sub-region, sustainable development cannot be achieved without strategic alliances with neighbouring nations. The roundtable served as a precursor to the upcoming West Africa Economic Summit (WAES), scheduled to take place from June 20 to 21 in Abuja.
Tuggar’s remarks come at a time when the West African region continues to grapple with shared developmental challenges — ranging from poor infrastructure to limited intra-regional trade and inconsistent policy frameworks. He emphasized the importance of leveraging West Africa’s population of over 400 million and its expanding consumer markets to create a resilient and inclusive regional economy.
“National strength alone is not sufficient to sustain long-term growth or to assert effective regional leadership,” Tuggar declared. “In an increasingly interconnected global economy, the imperative is clear: West Africa must transcend fragmented national pursuits and pursue greater regional integration.”
Tuggar highlighted the urgent need for a shift in regional mindset — from isolated economic ambitions to a shared vision rooted in mutual benefits, market connectivity, and policy harmonization. He stated that WAES will prioritize actionable outcomes by focusing on practical solutions: policy frameworks, infrastructure upgrades, financing mechanisms, and digitization tools that make doing business across West Africa faster, cheaper, and more predictable.
The minister noted that such an approach is not just desirable but critical for achieving sustainable development, positioning the region competitively in the global market, and lifting millions out of poverty. “Our demographic advantage is a catalyst for growth,” he said. “We must deploy policies that unlock this potential and translate it into economic prosperity.”
The roundtable attracted prominent business leaders from across sectors, who echoed the minister’s call for improved regulatory coherence and public-private sector synergy. Participants stressed the need for harmonized tax regimes, cross-border transport reforms, digital infrastructure development, and a regional strategy for energy and agriculture.
According to several executives at the event, fragmented policies have led to high costs of doing business and limited access to regional capital. “As business leaders, we’re ready to scale across the region,” said one attendee. “But we need frameworks that ensure policy predictability and infrastructure that supports inter-country trade.”
Tuggar’s message also aligns with the broader objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to eliminate trade barriers across the continent. By strengthening West Africa’s sub-regional integration, Nigeria and its neighbours can better position themselves to benefit from the AfCFTA’s market of 1.3 billion people.
In a related development, Tuggar praised the upcoming WAES as a landmark opportunity to define a new regional economic agenda that is inclusive, technology-driven, and rooted in sustainable practices. He reiterated the government’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment and attracting investment into key sectors such as agriculture, fintech, energy, and logistics.
As anticipation builds for the June WAES summit, stakeholders from both public and private sectors are expected to converge in Abuja to advance concrete policies and investment partnerships. Tuggar’s strong advocacy for economic unity, if matched with action, may mark a turning point for West Africa’s integration agenda.
With the region standing at the crossroads of opportunity and challenge, the success of such initiatives could redefine its role in Africa’s economic rise and global influence.