President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for a united continental response to the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, urging the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to escalate the matter to the African Union (AU).
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Lungi, Sierra Leone, Tinubu strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as Afrophobic and unacceptable.
He urged ECOWAS leaders to ensure the issue is tabled at the next African Union summit to send a clear message that violence and discrimination against fellow Africans will not be tolerated.
The President also reminded South Africa of the support it received from African nations, particularly Nigeria, during the struggle against apartheid, stressing that the country’s freedom was achieved through collective African solidarity.
Tinubu disclosed that Nigeria had already evacuated 1,490 citizens from South Africa in seven separate batches and reaffirmed the government’s readiness to continue diplomatic engagement over the situation.
His remarks followed recent comments by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who suggested that Nigeria could consider retaliatory measures if the attacks persist. The National Assembly is also reviewing the matter after both chambers condemned the violence against African nationals.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has equally called on the Federal Government to institute legal proceedings against South Africa before the African Court.
Beyond the xenophobia crisis, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the newly adopted ECOWAS Compact for the Future of Regional Integration, describing it as a strategic framework for promoting peace, economic cooperation, democratic governance and sustainable development across West Africa.
He said Nigeria would continue to play its historic leadership role by promoting regional integration, strengthening democratic institutions and advancing economic partnerships within the sub-region.
The President also pledged Nigeria’s support for removing trade barriers, improving cross-border infrastructure and facilitating the free movement of people, goods and services across ECOWAS member states.
Addressing governance challenges, Tinubu warned that insecurity, political instability and poor governance remain major threats to development in West Africa. While reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to constitutional democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, he cautioned against attempts to manipulate constitutional term limits or undermine democratic institutions.
According to him, good governance that delivers tangible benefits to citizens remains the strongest safeguard against unconstitutional changes of government and widespread unrest.
Tinubu further reiterated Nigeria’s backing for the proposed ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Force, calling for stronger intelligence sharing, joint military operations and preventive diplomacy to tackle insecurity across the region.
He also pledged continued efforts to promote gender equality, expand leadership opportunities for women, invest in education and skills development, and empower young people through entrepreneurship initiatives.
On relations with the Alliance of Sahel States, Tinubu stressed the need for sustained dialogue to preserve regional unity and strengthen ECOWAS cooperation.
Host President Julius Maada Bio said the summit provided an opportunity for West African leaders to assess the bloc’s achievements and chart a new course under the ECOWAS Vision 2050 framework, which aims to build a peaceful, prosperous and integrated region.
Meanwhile, ECOWAS Commission President Dr Omar Alieu Touray highlighted progress in democratic governance, regional security, humanitarian response and major infrastructure projects, including the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline and the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Project, describing them as key drivers of long-term economic integration in West Africa.
