ECOWAS: Stakeholders urge immediate resumption of trade with Mali, others
‘$ 500 million ECOWAS projects safe after suspension reversal’
STAKEHOLDERS have described the lifting of economic and trade sanctions, previously imposed on Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, as a good step in the right direction and urged that trading activities resume immediately to alleviate hardships.
The President of the West Africa Specialty Coffee Association ( WASCA), Larry Segun- Lean, said the lifting of the sanctions is a positive development from the Economic Community of West African States Commission ( ECOWAS) and that it is more to Nigeria’s advantage.
He said the three countries in question were already hobnobbing with Russia and in order not to cause an irreparable rift in the region, it was important to meet them halfway. He pointed out that ECOWAS does not have the military might to enforce any sanctions nor does it even have the moral standing to dictate right or wrong to another country.
“Truthfully, ECOWAS cannot enforce anything, and the three countries are already being courted by Russia and China, which is not too good for our regional integration and security. ECOWAS must go the extra mile to woo these countries back into the regional bloc so that the trading corridor can re- open. The Niger border that was shut should be re- opened and ECOWAS should lift the no- fly order.
“One must know its capacity before speaking and before handing out threats and sanctions; ECOWAS should have known its capacity because the organisation is not as formidable as they want us to think. ECOWAS has been struggling for decades now to get a unified currency to no avail.
“Nigeria that wants to be ‘ big brother’ has the weakest currency in West Africa, in what capacity do we want to play big brother? Trade in the border states and communities has suffered in the last couple of months, inflation and hunger is at its peak; we must look at the bigger picture,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise ( CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf, said lifting the sanctions would make it easier to engage the countries, especially concerning trade and economic activities in the sub- region. Commending ECOWAS for being humble and setting aside ego, he said it remains to be seen if the three countries reciprocate the gesture.
“With sanctions, it is the citizens that suffer the most. In Nigeria for instance, states that share borders with Niger felt a massive drop in economic activities. Lifting the ban may not be so good for democracy, however, it is good for trade.”
Adding that the country has some ECOWAS institutions located in different states, he said those institutions would have been in jeopardy.
“Those three countries pulling out is a major setback for regional and economic integration as well as trading activities. Lifting the ban will improve trading relations between Nigeria and her neighbours even though most of the trade is informal. Regarding security in the region, we need their cooperation to tackle regional unrest and terrorist invasions,” Yusuf noted.
He added that the three countries are being courted by foreign powers which is very dangerous as loyalties will change and the region will become fragmented. He added that the sanctions were lifted to rectify the damage done and restore the previously enjoyed relationship of security, trade and integration.
“The key issues around trade are non- tariff barriers which remain major impediments. Individual countries have a responsibility and must show commitment to removing these barriers which include border closures, imposing all manners of levies and ensuring security along trade routes ( which is often by road), among other issues,’ he said.
Meanwhile, ECOWAS said West Africa risked losing projects valued at $ 500 million if sanctions on the three countries were not suspended.
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