By Clement Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has held talks with the ECOWAS Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Dr Kalilou Sylla, on institutional reforms, cost-cutting measures and plans to ensure a more transparent recruitment process within the West African regional bloc.
Ojukwu disclosed this in a statement posted on her official X handle on Wednesday following a meeting with Sylla, who was sworn in on September 1 for the 2026–2030 term.
She said their discussions focused on changes introduced by the new ECOWAS leadership, including measures to reduce costs, improve transparency in personnel recruitment and make the commission’s impact more visible across member states.
Sylla, an Ivorian economist, has more than 38 years of experience in shaping regional economic, agricultural and trade policies, leading institutional reforms and coordinating regional integration programmes.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s strategic importance within ECOWAS, describing the country as a leading political, economic and security power in the region.
According to her, Nigeria’s priorities include promoting regional free trade, advancing the bloc’s single-currency and infrastructure goals, defending constitutional order, strengthening good governance and sustainability, and promoting democracy across member states.
She also stressed the importance of resisting military coups and upholding democratic governance as part of efforts to strengthen regional stability and integration.
Precise Post recalls that the meeting underscores ongoing efforts to improve ECOWAS’ institutional effectiveness, accountability and capacity to deliver on its regional integration objectives.
