Anything that affects Niger Republic concerns ECOWAS - President

The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mr. Omar Touray, has said that the situation in the Republic of Niger is of concern to the bloc.

The president said this on the sidelines of the ongoing 2023 second Ordinary Session and when he visited the ECOWAS Parliament to deliver the Community State Report for 2023 in Abuja on Friday.

He said that ECOWAS Heads of State are very clearly against an unconstitutional change of government in the Republic of Niger.

Touray said that ECOWAS would ensure that the provisions of the protocol are put in place as long as they are concerned.

“Niger remains a member of the ECOWAS Community, and anything that affects the people of Niger is of concern to ECOWAS and to ECOWAS leaders.

“So, whatever measure has been taken by ECOWAS that is affecting the population in Niger affects us as well,’’ he said.

Touray said that the ECOWAS single currency has been a major objective of the community, and it required political will as well as certain economic fundamentals.

“Inflation is one of them, and we need to work on it, and we need to work with the public debt to be able to meet some of those conversion criteria.

“That is required for a single currency. Inflation is now a global reality, and I think all the ministers of finance in the community will tell you that inflation is a major concern.

"I am sure all the financial authorities are concerned about it, and they are doing something about it, but it is a reality that is not unique to our region.

“If you travel around, you will realise that inflation is certainly a problem in the ECOWAS region and elsewhere,’’ he said.