JUST IN: Tinubu decries poor intra-regional trade, urges action

By Kunle Sanni

President Bola Tinubu has described the low level of intra-regional trade in West Africa—currently under 10 percent—as unacceptable and a serious threat to the region’s economic future if not urgently addressed.

“Intra-regional trade remains under 10%—a challenge we can no longer afford to ignore. The low trade is not due to a failure of will but a coordination failure. The global economy will not wait for West Africa to get its act together, and neither should we,” Tinubu said on Saturday at the opening of the West Africa Economic Summit in Abuja.

Speaking at the newly renovated Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, the President emphasized that while West Africa is one of the last great frontiers of economic growth, opportunity alone will not guarantee prosperity without integration, policy coherence, and collective action.

He stressed the need to strengthen regional value chains, invest in critical infrastructure, and harmonise policies across borders to ensure global competitiveness for the region.

Tinubu also identified the region’s youthful population as its greatest asset but cautioned that it could become a liability without sustained investments in education, digital infrastructure, innovation, and productive enterprise.

“Our region’s greatest asset is its youthful population. However, this demographic promise can quickly become a liability if not matched by investments,” he warned.

The President urged West African leaders to move beyond rhetoric and focus on practical steps that will attract investment, generate employment, and lift millions out of poverty.

Referencing regional projects such as the Lagos-Abidjan Highway and the West African Power Pool, Tinubu emphasized that deeper cooperation and timely implementation are key. “Let us build a West Africa that is investable, competitive, and resilient — one that leads with vision, responsibility, and unity,” he said.