Nigerian Lawmakers Robustly Defend ECOWAS Report Amid Regional Scrutiny

By Ifeyinwa Ike

Nigeria’s delegation at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament’s First Ordinary Session in Abuja defended its January-May 2026 country report against queries on governance, insecurity, human rights, and economy from fellow parliamentarians.n

Awaji-Inombek Abiante’s report touted electoral biometrics, judicial digitalization, anti-corruption pushes, and ECOWAS security collaboration, while noting challenges like insecurity and voter apathy.

Delegates challenged its accuracy on displacement, speech freedoms, religious tensions, and inclusivity.

Abiante countered that some issues fell outside the reporting period and followed ECOWAS guidelines.

He likened Nigeria’s security woes to policing a vast palace versus a small flat, stressing reforms yielding results amid global threats, not religion-specific, affecting all faiths equally.

On displacement, he noted that returns enabled by improving security; on speech, he affirmed freedoms but called for accountability. “Freedom after the speech means proving accusations.”

Abiante rejected one-party state claims, defended cultural values on LGBT issues, and sovereignty in policies.

Ahmad Munir highlighted 4.3% GDP growth, $50 billion reserves (13-year high), youth ECOWAS roles, and election prep, urging honest patriotism over exaggeration.

He called for cooperative engagement to drive reforms, stability, and inclusive growth without whitewashing or blackmail.