Nigeria, Benin Forge Closer Ties, Sign Landmark Integration Agreement

Nigeria and the Republic of Benin signed a landmark agreement on Saturday that will serve as a model for broader regional cooperation within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Benin Republic President Patrice Talon at the first West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja.

Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, signed the agreement alongside Benin’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Shegun Adjadi Bakari.

President Talon praised the agreement as a bold step towards real, actionable regional integration.

“President Tinubu and I have agreed to full integration between Benin and Nigeria. Our ministers will now be responsible for putting it into action. Benin and Nigeria are not just twins; we are the same people. “Let us show the region that integration is possible,” he said.

However, Talon used the summit to express his concerns about the current state of ECOWAS, describing it as “in crisis” and calling for immediate reforms.

He cited stalled progress on the West African Gas Pipeline and inefficiencies in the West African Power Pool as examples of administrative bottlenecks impeding regional cooperation.

He lamented that as a result of the delays, Benin had to rely on Qatar for gas.

He also emphasised logistical challenges along the Lagos-Abidjan Corridor, pointing out that unnecessary border checks and harassment were impeding trade.

“ECOWAS is an excellent example of regional integration. Unfortunately, our ECOWAS is in crisis right now,” he stated.

Talon also warned that poverty remains the most dangerous destabilising force in the region and that integration is critical to addressing it.

He also mentioned changing global trade dynamics, citing former US President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies as a reminder for African countries to prioritise their own interests.

The summit, which preceded the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on Sunday, June 22, 2025, featured statements from Sierra Leone and Liberia, as well as video messages from UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and World Trade Organisation Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Liberian President Joseph Boakai praised President Tinubu for convening the summit, describing it as a “timely, strategic summit” that reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to ECOWAS and regional blocs.

He stated, “This summit provides a vital platform for reflection, coordination, and renewed commitment to our subregion’s economic transformation.”

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio emphasised the importance of unlocking the region’s economic potential through strategic integration, urging leaders to accelerate regional integration through initiatives such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the Common External Tariff.

He also advocated for a single regional currency to improve intraregional competitiveness.

The agreement between Nigeria and Benin signals a renewed focus on strengthening bilateral ties and fostering a more robust regional economic environment, even as concerns about ECOWAS’s overall efficacy are raised.

The success of this bilateral partnership will undoubtedly be closely monitored as a potential model for future integration efforts in West Africa.