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Vice President Shettima Leads Nigerian Delegation as ECOWAS Meets on Regional Security

In an unusual move, Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at a crucial ECOWAS summit in Abuja on Sunday, December 14, as President Bola Tinubu was notably absent from the gathering of West African leaders.

The 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government was convened to address pressing regional security challenges, primarily the aftermath of the December 7 coup attempt in the Republic of Benin.

A Significant Absence

The meeting marked the first time Vice President Shettima has headed Nigeria's delegation at an ECOWAS summit held within the country while the president remained in Nigeria. No official reason was provided for President Tinubu's absence. Tinubu, who served as the chairman of the regional bloc from July 2023 to July 2025, delegated the responsibility to his deputy for this session.

Regional Leaders Convene on Instability

The summit, chaired by the current ECOWAS chair, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, featured a special debate on the future of the community. Among the leaders in attendance were Presidents Patrice Talon of Benin, José Maria Neves of Cabo Verde, Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, John Mahama of Ghana, and Bassirou Faye of Senegal.

Key items on the agenda included:
*   A review of the security situation in the Republic of Benin following the failed coup.
*   Updates on political developments in Guinea-Bissau and Guinea.
*   A report on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme.
*   The 2025 State of the Community report.

The session underscores the ongoing instability in the sub-region, with ECOWAS leaders seeking coordinated strategies to uphold democratic governance and peace.

*Source: Politics Nigeria*
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