Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic are set to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) by 2025.
News360 Info reports that Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, made the announcement during the 66th Ordinary Session of Heads of States and Governments held on Sunday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Touray specified that the withdrawal process for the three nations would span from January 29, 2025, to July 29, 2025, providing time for final mediations and potential diplomatic efforts.
In related news, the Nigerian government has released the sum of ₦85 billion (equivalent to $54 million) as a community levy to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, confirmed this payment on Sunday during his introductory remarks at the 66th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, which is taking place at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
News360 Info reports that the released fund represents its levy obligations from January 2023 through July 2024.
Touray said, “The good news, and indeed, a very good news is that for the first time in 19 years, Nigeria has decided to pay 100 per cent of its community levy from 2023.
I am therefore pleased to announce that on Friday 13, December 2024, Nigeria paid N85bn and $54m representing 100 per cent of the 2023 levy and the levy of 2024 up to July 2024.
He underscored this payment as evidence of the leadership and dedication of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian government, and its citizens towards the ECOWAS community.
