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.
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