Tinubu’s leadership helped ease West Africa tensions, says outgoing ECOWAS chief

Outgoing President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, has credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with helping to reduce political and security tensions and strengthen regional integration across West Africa.

Touray made the assessment after a farewell audience with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, ahead of the expiration of the current ECOWAS Commission’s mandate at the end of August.

The outgoing ECOWAS chief described Tinubu as a key figure in efforts to stabilise the sub-region, saying Nigeria’s leadership remained critical to addressing challenges confronting West Africa.

“If today we are saying tensions have reduced in West Africa, we should give credit to President Tinubu and Nigeria,” Touray told State House correspondents after the meeting.

He said Nigeria’s strategic importance to ECOWAS made its leadership indispensable, particularly at times when the region required political direction.

“Nigeria’s role in West Africa remains extremely important. I am happy the President appreciates this responsibility, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and other cabinet members have also played their roles whenever called upon to lead the region,” he said.

Touray explained that his visit was to thank Tinubu for the support he received during his tenure and acknowledge the President’s contribution to the regional body.

“President Tinubu has been a pillar of the region. We could not leave office without thanking him for the role he has played, and continues to play, not only for Nigeria but for the entire region and Africa,” he said.

Reflecting on his two years at the helm of the ECOWAS Commission, Touray said he considered it a privilege to have worked with the Nigerian President.