Tinubu Plans To Revitalize Regional Bodies For Economic Growth.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for the deepening of regional economic communities to drive integration and trade ties among African nations to strengthen democracy and accelerate development across the continent.

Tinubu made the call during the Summit on the State of Democracy in Africa Abuja, seeking the revitalization of sub-regional blocs like the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, East African Community, and Southern African Development Community, as vehicles to usher in an era of robust intra-African commerce, economic growth and job creation.

Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said, the immense potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area, can only be realized when there is concrete economic integration and collaboration at the different sub-regional levels.

While delivering the keynote address, President Tinubu charged the regional bodies to prioritize and minimize trade barriers, as well as promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth, including human capital development, as well as value addition in agriculture and agro-allied sectors.

President Tinubu explained that, reinvigorated sub-regional cooperation is critical to the successful implementation of the path-breaking by harmonizing rules and regulations to facilitate the free movement of goods, services and people.