By Ihechi Enyinnaya
Nigeria, Benin Sign Landmark Agreement to Deepen Integration as Tinubu and Talon Call for Regional Reforms
Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have signed a groundbreaking bilateral agreement aimed at accelerating economic integration and serving as a model for broader cooperation across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The agreement was formalized on Saturday during the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) held in Abuja, and was witnessed by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Beninese President Patrice Talon.
Signing on behalf of Nigeria were the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu. Representing Benin were Minister of Industry and Trade, Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Shegun Adjadi Bakari.
President Talon hailed the agreement as a bold step toward genuine regional integration:
“President Tinubu and I have agreed on full integration between Benin and Nigeria. The responsibility now lies with our ministers to implement it. Benin and Nigeria are more than twins—we are the same people. Let us show the region that integration is not only possible, but necessary.”
In his address, Talon called for urgent reforms within ECOWAS, declaring the bloc to be in a state of crisis. He cited administrative inefficiencies that have crippled key projects such as the West African Gas Pipeline and the West African Power Pool, which were intended to enhance regional energy cooperation but remain largely dysfunctional.
“It is ridiculous. This failure of regional cooperation wastes resources and undermines integration,” he said, noting that Benin now sources gas from Qatar through a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) due to these delays.
On infrastructure, President Talon decried the persistent obstacles along the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor, emphasizing that economic integration is meaningless if businesses and travelers are routinely harassed at multiple checkpoints:
“The road exists. But a businessman should be able to travel from Lagos to Abidjan in hours—not days. That is not integration.”
He stressed that poverty remains the most dangerous threat to the region’s stability, democracy, and development:
>“If we do not address poverty through integration, our values will remain hollow.”
Reflecting on global trade trends, President Talon referenced former U.S. President Donald Trump’s protectionist stance as a wake-up call for Africa:
“The trade war reminds us that nations act in their own interest. So should we. At some point, we may even have to thank President Trump for that reminder.”
He concluded with a resounding call to action:
“If we cannot create wealth and opportunity, then democracy and liberty cannot be sustained. Integration must be real. Integration must be delivered.
The summit featured national statements from regional leaders and dignitaries ahead of the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, scheduled for Sunday, June 22, 2025, at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
Other highlights included recorded video messages from UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and World Trade Organization Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Liberian President Joseph Boakai reiterated Liberia’s support for ECOWAS and the Mano River Union in reducing trade barriers and promoting regional competitiveness:
“This summit provides a strategic platform for reflection, coordination, and commitment to our region’s transformation.”
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio urged leaders to unlock the region’s economic potential amid mounting global challenges, including public debt, climate change