Tinubu Urges Regional Economic Communities To Enhance African Integration, Trade Ties

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu urged African regional economic communities to work together in order to improve integration and trade ties among African countries, adding that Nigeria has learned from past bitter experiences that the solution to poor democratic governance is to have more democracy.

Speaking during the Summit on the State of Democracy in Africa on Wednesday in Abuja, the president suggested that groups like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) should strengthen intra-African commerce, economic growth and job creation.

Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, explained the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)'s immense potential that "can only be maximally realized when there is concrete economic integration and collaboration at the different sub-regional levels," as per the official statement shared on State House website.

The president went on to urge that the regional bodies should focus on reducing obstacles to trade, promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth, human capital development as well as value addition in agriculture and agro-allied sectors.

"We must deliberate on ways through which African sub-regional organizations can help foster better intra-African trade, achieve better food and energy security, promote higher rates of youth employment, alleviate poverty and realize greater prosperity for our people," he said.

Tinubu acknowledged the "despair about democratic reversals" happening because of recent military coups.

"The tragedies of our nations and histories inspire our concern about the reversals of democratic governments, particularly in West Africa. That's why we are alarmed by the military coups in Mali, Guinea Conakry, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, and Gabon," he added.

The president also suggested that regional groups should consider creating strong military forces that would quickly stop military takeovers and fight terrorism and religious extremism.

Tinubu encouraged African leaders to follow constitutional tenets like term limits and ensure credible elections and autonomous institutions via the African Peer Review Mechanism to achieve a strong democracy.

"This Summit must discuss ways of making the APRM contribute to achieving good governance and democratic consolidation on the continent," he added.

The event was also attended by President of the Ford Foundation Darren Walker, Executive Director of Trust Africa Ebrima Sall and Co-Founder of Afrobarometer Professor Gyimah Boadi, among others.