The Federal Republic of Germany has granted the Economic Community of West African States €81m to help address insecurity, infrastructure deficit, and climate change, among others.
The President, ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray made this known at a press conference when he received the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz, in Abuja on Sunday.
Scholz arrived at the commission in Abuja at exactly 6:40 pm and was received by Touray and the Vice President of the commission, Damtien Tchintchibidja.
The Chancellor is on a two-day visit to Nigeria. This is his first visit to Nigeria since assuming office in December 2021.
Touray noted that the total grant support from Germany to the region amounted to €500m in the last 10 years.
He said, “Recently, we concluded an agreement to the tune of €81m that the government of Germany and the people of Germany have decided to grant ECOWAS to support in various areas.
“The grant will cover areas such as peaceful and inclusive society, climate and energy transition, sustainable and economic development, health, social protection and population. These are important sectors and we appreciate Germany for their support.
“The recent agreement has brought Germany’s support over a decade close to €500m.”
The commission’s president, however, identified insecurity and infrastructure deficit bedeviling the region, adding that ECOWAS and Germany are ready to address the challenges.
Touray said, “Your Excellency, during our discussion, we talked about the challenges that this region is facing such as insecurity, and infrastructure deficit. We have agreed to continue working together.
“Our regions are closely linked. What happens in one area affects the other and then we appreciate what Germany is doing individually and through the European Union for supporting this region.
“We are appreciative of the partnership that the region continues to enjoy with Germany and the EU, particularly in the area of peace and security, and strong governance.”
In his remarks, Scholz listed electricity, health, peace and security as areas of partnership with ECOWAS.
He said, “There are strategies that have been put in place to strengthen the partnership between Germany and ECOWAS.
“The situation of peace of very important. Times are turbulent and we are in full support of peace. We are not going to accept a military coup in the ECOWAS region.”
