Germany Supports ECOWAS With €81 Million to Address Challenges - Omar Touray

The Federal Republic of Germany recently announced that it will support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with the sum of €81 million to tackle critical issues like insecurities, climate change, infrastructural gaps, and other related challenges witnessed on the continent.

This development was made public on Sunday after the President of ECOWAS, Omar Touray, announced it during a press conference that was held in Abuja. The meeting also saw the attendance of the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz.

Speaking at the event, the Chancellor said that electricity, peace, healthcare, and security are the focal points of their partnership with ECOWAS.

What Scholz Said During His Meeting With Ecowas

• We have enjoyed the partnership in the areas of support for the regions. 

• Our mission in this is to improve the ECOWAS countries and its region. Our cooperation was felt during the pandemic, and we plan further to deepen our relationship with ECOWAS. 

• There have been six coups in West Africa since 2020, with the latest coming in July this year when the Republic of Niger’s army deposed and detained President Mohamed Bazoum. 

• The situation of peace and security is important at these critical times, and we value the peace that the region enjoyed before the coup in the ECOWAS region. 

• Also, we stand with not accepting a coup, and when we look at the coup in Niger and that is why we want to deepen our cooperation.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission said that the visit of the Chancellor showed the cordial relationship between the Germany-ECOWAS Cooperation.

He also mentioned that ECOWAS has reached an agreement with Germany and the government has agreed to support the Commission with €81 million to boost the ECOWAS region in sectors of the economy. 

What Touray Said During the Press Conference on Sunday

• As I indicated during our little discussion, Germany has been a strong and consistent partner of ECOWAS and ECOWAS member states. 

• Recently, we have concluded an agreement to the tune of €81 million that the government of Germany have decided to grant the ECOWAS to support us in various areas. 

• Those are vital areas, as I have indicated, they cover areas such as peaceful and inclusive society, climate, energy transition, sustainable economy development, health, social protection and population. 

• These are important sectors, and we appreciate the support that you have given to us in these areas. 

• The recent agreement has brought Germany support to ECOWAS over decades or several years to close €500 million, we are very appreciative. 

The President of ECOWAS also added that they discussed more pressing issues in the region such as insecurity, infrastructure shortcomings, and social development challenges. 

He added,

• We talked about the challenges that the region is facing, insecurity, infrastructure deficit, and social development, and we’ve agreed to continue to work in those areas. 

• Our regions are closely linked and what happens in one area affects the other, and we appreciate what Germany is doing individually and through the European Union supporting this region. 

• We are particularly, appreciative of the partnership that we continue to enjoy with Germany and the EU.

Olaf Scholz who arrived in Nigeria on Sunday, 29th of October on a two-day trip that focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Germany and the Sub-Saharan region.

Upon his visit, he met with the President of Niger, Bola Tinubu and the ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray in Abuja. 

From the meeting with ECOWAS, Scholz will move to Lagos where he opens a Nigeria-German Business Conference organized by the Nigerian-German Chamber of Commerce.