By Abiodun Folarin
WorldStage— The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has thrown its weight behind the introduction of sanctions against member states that fail to implement regional trade protocols, arguing that stronger enforcement is necessary to accelerate regional integration, facilitate the free movement of people, goods and services, and unlock opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The position emerged on Tuesday during the sidelines of the ongoing delocalised meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Joint Committee on Industry and Private Sector, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research, Administration, Finance and Budget, and Public Accounts in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
The lawmakers’ endorsement follows a recommendation by Dr. Tony Luka Elumelu of the ECOWAS Business Council Secretariat, who had on Monday urged the regional bloc to consider sanctions for countries that fail to comply with agreed trade protocols.
Speaking with journalists, Nigerian lawmaker Hon. Bashiru Dawodu said the region could no longer afford fragmented approaches to economic development, stressing that ECOWAS must move beyond policy declarations to effective implementation.
According to him, West Africa’s population of about 400 million presents enormous economic potential, but the benefits have remained largely unrealised because member states continue to operate independently rather than as an integrated market.
He argued that sanctions could serve as an effective mechanism to encourage compliance with regional agreements, noting that governments are more likely to fulfil their obligations when there are clear consequences for non-compliance.
Dawodu also emphasised that the free movement of people, goods and services remains fundamental to expanding trade and improving business competitiveness across the sub-region.
He further called for stronger efforts to integrate MSMEs into the formal economy, observing that the majority of businesses in ECOWAS countries operate informally and are therefore unable to access structured financing, regional value chains and broader market opportunities.
According to him, bringing these enterprises into the formal sector would improve access to credit, strengthen infrastructure development and deepen cross-border commerce.
Also speaking, Liberian parliamentarian Hon. Taa Wongbe urged both ECOWAS lawmakers and member state governments to move beyond rhetoric by enforcing existing regional agreements and dismantling unnecessary trade barriers.
He lamented that despite decades of integration efforts, traders and travellers continue to face the same border bottlenecks and roadblocks that have long hindered regional commerce.
Drawing from his personal experience travelling across West African borders from childhood, Wongbe said the persistent delays continue to increase the cost of transporting goods and ultimately make products more expensive across the region.
To better appreciate the challenges faced by citizens and businesses, he proposed that the ECOWAS Parliament constitute a committee to undertake inspection visits to border posts across member states.
According to him, first-hand experience of the obstacles encountered by traders would strengthen the Parliament’s advocacy and enable lawmakers to exert greater pressure on national governments to eliminate trade barriers.
The discussions at the committee meeting underscored growing consensus within ECOWAS institutions that stronger political will and stricter enforcement of regional commitments are essential to achieving the bloc’s integration agenda.
With both the ECOWAS Commission and Parliament advocating firmer implementation measures, attention now shifts to the leaders of member states, whose commitment will determine whether the region can create a more integrated market where MSMEs thrive, trade flows more freely, and economic growth contributes to reducing poverty, unemployment and insecurity.
