Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger exit weakened ECOWAS integration — Nigerian Presidency

The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has weakened key mechanisms for regional integration and created a major challenge to cooperation within West Africa, the Presidency has said.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, made the remarks on Thursday at a policy colloquium organised by the Ministry of Defence in Abuja.

The three Sahelian countries formally left ECOWAS in January 2025, following their announcement in 2024 of plans to withdraw from the regional bloc. They have since strengthened their cooperation through the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Dare said the withdrawal had disrupted regional mechanisms, particularly ECOWAS protocols aimed at promoting economic integration and facilitating the movement of goods and services across member states.

“The rupture that came in 2025, when the countries pulled out of ECOWAS, created a major regional crisis,” Dare said, adding that the development had also resulted in the emergence of the AES as a rival regional framework.

He claimed that the importance of effective border management to both economic integration and regional security, describing national borders as a critical frontline for maintaining stability. According to him, well-managed borders can support legitimate trade and movement while strengthening security, whereas weak border controls can create opportunities for instability and other security threats.

Dare also rejected claims that Nigeria’s borders were closed, saying the country’s borders remained open but subject to necessary controls by relevant government agencies.

“Nigeria’s borders are open,” he said, warning politicians against turning border security into an issue for electoral campaigns or using it to score political points.

He explained that the concept of open borders should not be interpreted as unrestricted movement, noting that immigration, customs, and other security agencies remained responsible for regulating activities at the country’s entry and exit points.

“Our borders are critical. There are no open borders without controls. So, you must understand there is a distinction,” he said.