Akpabio, Ivorian speaker advocate stronger regional unity at Inter-Parliamentary Union

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the Ivorian National Assembly, Patrick Jérôme Achi, have advocated stronger regional unity and cooperation to drive West Africa’s integration and development.

The call was made during a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Istanbul, Turkey, where both leaders discussed strategies to advance the region’s integration agenda.

Welcoming the Ivorian delegation, Akpabio described Côte d’Ivoire as a “historic partner and brother nation,” stressing that the relationship between both countries is vital to the region’s future.

“If we unite as a bloc, we will be stronger in trade, economic cooperation, political collaboration, and cultural exchange. Otherwise, we risk a return to new forms of neocolonialism,” he said.

Both leaders emphasised the need for deeper regional integration, calling for a stronger Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the reintegration of countries in the Sahel region.

A major highlight of the meeting was the Abidjan–Accra–Lagos Coastal Highway project, designed to connect more than 300 million people across West Africa and significantly reduce travel time between Lagos and Abidjan.

Akpabio described the project as a transformative initiative that would enhance mobility, trade, and economic cooperation, noting that several ECOWAS countries have already enacted laws to support seamless cross-border movement.

In his remarks, Achi stressed the importance of private sector-led growth, noting that strong governance and legislative support are essential to unlocking investment and creating jobs.