President Bola Tinubu has blamed the low level of trade among West African countries—currently under 10%—on a lack of political will and coordination among regional leaders.
Speaking at the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja, President Tinubu said the region's trade underperformance is not due to external forces but a failure to collaborate and integrate economies effectively.
"Low trade is a symbol of low collaboration," he said. "We must strengthen our regional value chains, invest in infrastructure, and coordinate our policies."
He criticized West Africa's continued "pit-to-port" economic model, where raw minerals are exported without processing, leading to job losses and missed industrial opportunities. "We must turn our mineral wealth into domestic economic value, jobs, technology, and manufacturing," he added.
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The President urged leaders to move beyond policy declarations to practical solutions that support supply chains, energy access, and digital infrastructure across borders. He cited projects like the Lagos-Abidjan Highway and the West African Power Pool as evidence of what regional cooperation can achieve.
Tinubu also stressed the need to invest in education, innovation, and job creation to harness the region's youthful population. "To be resource-rich is not enough — we must become value chain smart," he said.
As Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, Tinubu's remarks set a strong tone for deeper economic integration and private sector inclusion across West Africa.
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