Koko Maxwella 
ABUJA, Nigeria – West African leaders converge in Abuja as the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government open at the State House Conference Centre, with the future of the regional bloc high on the agenda.
In a statement on Sunday, the summit features a Special Debate on the Future of the ECOWAS Community, alongside deliberations on political stability, regional security cooperation and economic integration across West Africa.
The meeting is chaired by President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, current Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, who arrives in Abuja on Saturday, according to a statement from his office issued on Sunday. “Regional leaders will deliberate on critical issues affecting West Africa, with particular focus on recent developments involving Guinea-Bissau and Benin,” the statement says.
Key agenda items include a review of the state of the ECOWAS Community, presentation of the 2025 Annual Report, updates on regional security and mediation efforts, and an assessment of progress on Guinea’s political transition.
Leaders are also expected to examine the implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), a flagship policy aimed at boosting intra-regional trade and economic integration.
The session is expected to conclude with the adoption of a final communiqué, followed by a joint press conference outlining collective decisions and next steps.
Meanwhile, earlier in the week, the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, also meeting in Abuja, unanimously endorsed President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana as the bloc’s sole candidate for Chairperson of the African Union when the rotational position shifts to West Africa in 2027.
Observers say the Abuja summit comes at a critical moment for ECOWAS as the region navigates political transitions, security threats and economic headwinds.
About the Author
Oluwatobi Adu 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
