By Mufutau Ojo

Renowned diplomat, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, says the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) must recommit to strengthening regional agriculture value chains.

Chambas made the call at the 66th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS summit of Heads of State and Government held in Abuja on Sunday.

He said strengthening agriculture value chains would help create the much-needed economic opportunity for farmers and economic operators.

Chambas, who is the Chairman of the Taskforce on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), said this would also reduce regional food security challenges.

He expressed optimism that the region would be able achieve a more resilient and sustainable agriculture sector.

Chambas further said the delays in addressing the challenges hindering the free movement of persons and goods were not unique to any particular region of Africa.

He described ECOWAS as a regional leader in terms of freedom of movement of its people.

Chambas said dysfunctions resulting from misapplication of ETLS protocols were partly due to weak institutional capacity of National Committees for the Recognition of Community Origin.

He identified the lack of knowledge of the protocols by economic actors as another challenge.

” Trade and development move along with people who trade, and West Africa is not an exception for what unites us is not just economic ties, but also social and cultural ones.

” As such, we need to continue to focus on improving the economic conditions of our people and to promote our regional integration in order to help increase our intra-Africa exchanges in all relevant areas.

” West Africa is a region where, for centuries, our people have moved about freely, engaging in commerce and building traditional bonds and historic relationships.

” This is a moment to work to build a borderless Africa, not the moment to step backward,” he said.

Chambas also said free movement of people, goods and services across the continent must be made a priority in order to boost development and shared prosperity.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)