Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have signed a groundbreaking agreement aimed at deepening economic and political integration between the two nations.
The deal, formalized during the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit in Abuja, was witnessed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Benin’s President Patrice Talon, along with top government officials from both countries.
Billed as a potential model for the wider ECOWAS region, the agreement focuses on eliminating barriers to trade, travel, and cooperation between the neighbouring countries.
President Talon, speaking at the event, emphasized the unity of the two nations:
“Nigeria and Benin are not just neighbours, we are one people.”
Talon criticised ECOWAS’ current inefficiencies, citing the failed West African Gas Pipeline and the weak performance of the West African Power Pool. He disclosed that Benin now imports gas from Qatar, highlighting the region’s inability to harness its own energy potential.
Talon also condemned the persistent bottlenecks along the Lagos–Abidjan highway, where cross-border delays and harassment hamper business activities.
“Real integration means smoother travel and trade—not bureaucracy and delays,” Talon said.
Warning that poverty threatens democracy, he urged African leaders to prioritize domestic economic growth, referencing former U.S. President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies as a lesson for Africa’s development focus.
The summit also laid the groundwork for the upcoming ECOWAS Heads of State meeting, with leaders like Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai and Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio supporting ideas such as a single regional currency to streamline trade and lower costs.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala delivered virtual remarks, backing the vision of a more unified West African economy.
