Acting President welcomes new ECOWAS chairman

Acting President

Osinbajo told the visiting leader that “Nigeria will support you in every way and we are very happy with your election.

“I know that President Muhammadu Buhari will give every measure of support required because he will want you to succeed very much.”

The acting President added that the Buhari administration was pleased that President Gnassingbe visited Nigeria almost immediately after his election to lead the regional body.

He gave the assurance that Nigeria would continue to play an active role inECOWAS.

Osinbajo, who congratulated Gnassingbe on his election as ECOWAS chairman,assured him that Nigeria was concerned about regional issues and would continue to explore resolutions in partnership with other member-states.

The acting President also welcomed the continued consultations on the issue of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between ECOWAS and the European Union (EU) while observing also that each country had peculiar challenges.

He expressed the hope that the spirit of ECOWAS — brotherhood, would be helpful in addressing some of the issues confronting the regional body.

Earlier, the new ECOWAS leader had told the acting President that he was at the villafor consultation because Nigeria was an important player in issues of the regional body.

During the visit, Gnassingbe highlighted a number of ECOWAS issues and challenges, including the European Partnership Agreement being discussed by the regional body.

He said as the ECOWAS chairman, he would be involved in frequent exchanges and consultations with Nigeria, considering Nigeria’s role in the region.

The Togolese President also said he wanted the relationship between his country and Nigeria to remain very close.

In a related development, Acting President Osinbajo also received Mr Foumakoye Gado, Special Envoy of President Issoufou Mohamadou of Niger.

Osinbajo assured the envoy and the country’s petroleum minister of Nigeria’s continued support and cooperation with Niger.