Minister Lauds ECOWAS giant Strides on Trans Border Cooperation.

**Inaugurates a Technical Committee.

Jonas Ezieke, Abuja

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Amb Zubairu Dada on Tuesday lauded the role of the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS on its relentless efforts to integrate states within the West African sub-region saying that it has significantly reduced trans border conflicts.

The Minister gave the commendation while delelivering an address at the  inauguration ceremony of a technical committee on ECOWAS Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2021-2025.

He noted that since the creation of the ECOWAS significant progress has been made in transformation and development of the fifteen states of the body in the West Africa sub-region.

He further noted that various treaties,  protocols and agreements signed between the states in the ECOWAS community on the free movement of persons and goods had significantly contributed to smooth integration of these African nations.

The top government official also noted that decision to adopted cross boader cooperation in the sub-region had led to serious transformation and development of the states in the sub-par region.

While inaugurating the Committee, he explained that body  would be the think thank to coordinate the activities of the Foreign Ministry and the ECOWAS national unit on  cross boarder cooperation fore economic integration at the national platform.

Also in a remark, the Director-General of the National Boundaries Commission Surveyor Mr Adamu A. Adaji said that inter state trade between ECOWAS countries had led to the permeability of states boaders.

He also informed that the National Boundaries Commission NBC’s mandate is to delineate and enhance cross border cooperation between  Nigeria and other African States.