Niger Republic Speaker Decries Low Trade Level among ECOWAS Members *Tasks leaders on speedy realisation of single currency, ratification of AfCFTA

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Niger, Youssouff Aya, has decried the poor level of trade among members of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), lamenting that the situation is a major impediment in the achievement of full economic integration of the region.

Aya, who called for the dismantling of all obstacles to free movement of goods and people, particularly at member states borders, charged leaders in the region to fast track the implementation of the single currency policy in the region.

He gave the charge on Thursday at the opening of the second ordinary session of the ECOWAS parliament in Abuja.

According to him, "We should be able to banish long queues at check points of member states. We need to move at a very high speed and develop intra trade in the community."

Aya insisted that the current level of trade among member states put at 15 percent is very low and hampers the realisation of the vision of the founding fathers of the ECOWAS.

He said it is important for leaders to have a voluntary attitude to remove all obstacles to single currency, adding that adoption of single currency would reduce cost and strengthen trade in goods and services.

He also called on member countries that are yet to ratify the African continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to do so without further delay in order to bring about the much needed economic revolution on the continent.

According to the guest speaker, Africa with its over one billion population and a GDP of over $2trillion make the continent the largest trade region in the world.

However, speaking to journalists shortly after the opening session, Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament, Mustapha Cisse-Lou, noted that the implementation of the single currency policy rests with the Heads of States and Government of member states, however reiterated the parliament’s willingness to harmonise economic policies in the region.

He said it would be difficult for the region to develop without the harmonisation of economic policies.

"It is a process that has to be sped up, as we cannot think of development without harmonising our economic policies in our region,” he stated.

Responding to the call by the Nigerian Speaker on the Parliament to support efforts at providing lasting peace in the Sahel, Cisse 'Lo noted that since most of the countries in the region are members of the ECOWAS, the Parliament would give the issue the needed attention.

On the issue of Morocco's membership of the community, the ECOWAS Parliament Speaker, who noted that the decision rest with the Heads of States, however disclosed that the parliament has set up a committee to consider the impact on the community's economy.