Shettima Leads Nigeria’s Delegation as ECOWAS Holds 68th Summit in Abuja
The 68th Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government commenced on Sunday at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, with Vice President Kashim Shettima heading Nigeria’s delegation.
Although President Bola Tinubu is in Abuja and attending the summit, he delegated Shettima to formally represent Nigeria at the high-level meeting. This marks the first occasion the Vice President is leading the country’s delegation to an ECOWAS summit held on Nigerian soil while the President remains in the country.
President Tinubu previously served as Chairman of ECOWAS from July 2023 to July 2025 before handing over leadership to Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Bio, who currently chairs the regional bloc. The summit, which began around 3:00 p.m. local time, features a special session focused on discussions about the future direction of the West African regional community amid evolving political and security challenges.
In attendance are several West African leaders, including President Julius Bio of Sierra Leone, President Patrice Talon of Benin, President José Maria Neves of Cabo Verde, President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, President Adama Barrow of The Gambia, President John Mahama of Ghana, President Umaro Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, President Joseph Boakai of Liberia, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, and President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo. Ghana’s President John Mahama returned to office in January 2025, following the completion of former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s tenure.
Also scheduled to speak at the session are the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, and the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Bankole Adeoye, before deliberations move into a closed-door meeting.
Key agenda items include the presentation of the 2025 State of the Community report, briefings from the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, an update on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, and country-specific reports on Guinea-Bissau and Benin. Leaders are also expected to deliberate on the confirmation of a host country for the headquarters of the West African Health Organisation and review developments surrounding Guinea’s political transition.
The summit is taking place against the backdrop of significant political upheaval in the region over the past five years, marked by military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
These events strained regional unity, culminating in the decision by Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to withdraw from ECOWAS in early 2024.
