Janet Samuel
Deputy Chairman of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Committee on Infrastructure and member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmed Munir. has called for the formalization of the informal trade sector to better reflect the true scale of economic activity within West Africa. He stated that a significant volume of trade exists among ECOWAS citizens but is largely unrecorded due to its informal nature.
Speaking with newsmen at the ongoing Sixth Legislature Delocalized Joint Committee Meeting on Infrastructure, Energy and Mines in Lomé, Togo, the lawmaker representing Lere Federal Constituency, Kaduna State, emphasized that although trade among ECOWAS citizens is thriving, much of it occurs informally and escapes official data
“You’ll be shocked at the amount of trade happening in West Africa, It’s robust, but because it falls under the informal sector, it’s not properly captured. We must bring this sector into the formal net to strengthen our GDP data and provide access to funding and protections for traders.”
He emphasized the need for regional infrastructure development to complement economic integration, citing the Lagos-Dakar highway project as a critical example. “From Lagos to Dakar, roads are already being constructed, and in Nigeria, it has been captured in our national budget,” he said.
Hon. Munir, who also chaired the House Committee onCommerce, called attention to the need for more affordable and efficient air travel across the region, stressing that the movement of people and goods is essential for integration. “We want West Africans to be able to trade, study, and visit one another with ease. Like the telecom revolution, we aim to spark a similar transformation in the aviation sector.”
He advocated for innovative funding models through public-private partnerships (PPP) to reduce the infrastructure burden on governments. “Private entities can construct and maintain roads and recoup investments through toll gates or tax incentives,” he noted.
Looking at ECOWAS’s progress at 50, Munir expressed optimism. “There is hope. The fact that we’re here drafting policies and engaging stakeholders means progress is happening. We’re setting short, medium, and long-term goals.”
Munir, therefore, urged unity and continuity. “Yes, we’re different nations with different approaches, but we share one destination. We must pass the baton and keep moving forward. There’s strength in unity, and with consistent reform, we’re going places.”
