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Minister, Reps, Experts Disagree Over Morocco’s Admission Into ECOWAS 

Experts in International Relations are not on the same page with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Oyeama on why Morocco should be admitted into … Continue reading Minister, Reps, Experts Disagree Over Morocco’s Admission Into ECOWAS 


Experts in International Relations are not on the same page with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Oyeama on why Morocco should be admitted into the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Onyeama who appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Integration in Africa on Thursday, November 9, said admitting Morocco into the community may be beneficial to Nigeria’s economy.

The public hearing which was tagged, ‘Review of Nigeria’s Membership of ECOWAS in View of the Clamour to Admit Morocco into the Community,’ had in attendance experts and stakeholders including prominent lawyer Femi Falana, Research Professor, National Institute Of International Affairs, Fred Agwu, Former Director General, National Institute Of International Affairs, John Shinkaiye, among others.

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While the minister’s position is that admitting Morocco into the community may be beneficial to the country’s economy the experts disagreed stating that it will affect the country grossly.

“Being in ECOWAS, I have pointed out, in the Ministry of states, they gave us some statistics and advisory that if we are just objective about it, it is likely going to be an economic win rather than an economic loss,”Onyeama said.

Research Professor, National Institute of International Affairs, Fred Agwu said, “I feel it is important for Nigeria to remain in ECOWAS and to make sure that it blocks this move by Morocco to come into ECOWAS because it has the power to block it. ECOWAS treaty gives us the leverage to block it because ECOWAS treaty does not provide for ascension by people from other parts of West Africa sub-region.”

The Former Director General, National Institute of International Affairs, Professor Bola Akinterinwa in his opinion said admitting Morocco ECOWAS will generate into a problem that Nigeria will never be in a position to solve. He also said the country should be stopped from joining ECOWAS.

Vice President, Association of Retired Career Ambassadors Of Nigeria (ARCAN), John Shinkaiye, said, “Morocco’s admission into ECOWAS, if it were to happen would be one of the most humiliating moments of our country’s foreign policy since Independence, it should not be allowed.”

Lawyer, Femi Falana said, “so if you allow Morocco it’s going to be a conduit pipe for the European Union to flood West Africa with goods and all our industry will just collapse.”

The Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, at the beginning of the public hearing said she hopes the public hearing will reach a consensus that will inform Nigeria’s position to either support or reject the bid by Morocco.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs says the Nigerian government has not taken a final position on this matter and that the recommendation of this committee may help guide the House of Representatives and the country on the right position to take.