Yusuf Tuggar, the minister of foreign affairs, referred to visa restrictions as non-tariffical barriers to trade between the United States and West African countries.
Tuggar claimed that restrictions on trade with the US were a hindrance despite the West African region’s interest in such agreements.
He made these remarks on Wednesday at the ministerial level in Abuja during the 54th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council.
The body’s members were a strategic alternative to “more distant and politically divergent energy producers” in the world, according to the minister.
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Tuggar stated, “We would like to reach agreements with the US, but visa restrictions are not barriers to doing so.” We have participated in international trading before the modern state system because we are experts in the art of the deal.
The US and the ECOWAS nations “have a rare opportunity to form a partnership based on basic needs.” We provide a strategic alternative to more distant and politically divisive energy producers.
Therefore, we’ll strike agreements to ensure our prosperity. Who is the only one to ask? Who exploits the opportunities in our region by allowing business executives, technocrats, business executives, and entrepreneurs to travel freely between locations to close deals?
He added that security and prosperity are frequently directly related, and that continued prosperity can be achieved through trade and investment without the use of barriers.
Therefore, it would be remiss of me if I did not mention the Government of the United States’ apparently recent decision to restrict travel to all ECOWAS nations (Togo was previously listed).
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Because we have a wealth of opportunities, we would be very unfortunate if this were to occur. We are a possession of crucial minerals, including rare earths like Samarium, from the Monazite found in Bauchi, which he continued.
Therefore, he urged attendees to approach the discussions with the same spirit of collaboration, commitment, and determination that has long defined this Council.
Our shared responsibility is to provide vision, concrete outcomes, and long-lasting solutions, he said. The citizens of our country have high expectations, and we have a duty to do the same.
The ECOWAS region, according to the minister, has benefited greatly from the foresight shown in the establishment of the Inter-Governmental Action Plan Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) a few decades ago as illicit financial flows, money laundering, and terrorism financing continue to threaten our collective security.
Source: Channels TV
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