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Public affairs analyst and pan-African advocate, Joe Femi Dagunro, has expressed deep concern over the persistent failures of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in delivering on its integration promises, despite having been established decades before the European Union (EU).
In a recent media interview, Dagunro criticised the regional bloc for its sluggish progress in achieving economic and political unity among its member states, lamenting that many of its founding objectives remain unfulfilled and largely theoretical.
“ECOWAS was formed even before the European Union,” Dagunro stated. “But while the EU has made tangible strides in regional integration — from a common currency to relatively seamless cross-border movement — ECOWAS still hasn’t moved past endless summits and communiqués.”
He highlighted the absence of a regional currency and the continued obstacles to free movement across borders, both of which were among ECOWAS’s original goals when it was established in 1975. Dagunro shared a personal experience at the Seme border between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, one of West Africa’s busiest crossings, to underscore how far the region still lags behind.
“Why should I, as a citizen of an ECOWAS country, still need to explain myself at a border checkpoint within the subregion?” he asked. “I’ve travelled to over 45 African countries, and the pattern is always the same — endless bureaucracy, countless checkpoints, and no real enforcement of the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of people and goods.”
Dagunro stressed that the gap between what ECOWAS declares and what it implements has created a credibility problem for the regional bloc. He argued that while ECOWAS leaders are often quick to issue declarations and resolutions, these are rarely followed through with concrete actions or institutional reforms.
“ECOWAS will issue statements and make promises, but it ends there,” he said. “What we need is enforcement. The influence and authority of ECOWAS should be far more impactful than what we’re witnessing.”
Drawing a sharp comparison with the European Union, Dagunro noted that although the EU grapples with its own internal challenges, it has succeeded in integrating economies, creating a shared currency in the euro, and ensuring relatively efficient and predictable cross-border processes among its members.
“If ECOWAS had consolidated its economic and political ambitions over the years, today we wouldn’t be as dependent on the dollar or the euro,” he argued. “We could have developed a strong, viable regional currency and built inter-African trade structures that serve our people.”
Dagunro also touched on the African Union’s broader shortcomings, observing that the continent continues to underexploit its vast natural and human resources. He described Africa as a region brimming with opportunity but hindered by inconsistency, weak institutions, and political indecision.
“We have abundant resources — both natural and human — and it’s these assets that should power our regional integration,” he said. “But because our leaders and institutions are not consistent, and because there’s no continuity from one administration to the next, we’re not maximising these opportunities.”
He acknowledged that while no single leader can resolve all of the regional bloc’s issues, the lack of policy continuity and sustained political will across successive administrations has prevented ECOWAS from making meaningful progress.
“Each president comes in, does a little here and there, and leaves,” Dagunro noted. “We need to get beyond mere speeches and communiqués. The policies we’ve spent decades discussing must finally be implemented if we’re ever going to catch up with the rest of the world.”
Dagunro’s remarks come at a significant moment for ECOWAS, as Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prepares to hand over chairmanship of the regional bloc to Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio. Many observers see this transition as an opportunity for fresh ideas and renewed momentum within ECOWAS leadership.
As Dagunro pointed out, the incoming leadership will need to demonstrate a stronger commitment to translating regional goals into measurable action. “It’s not just about hosting summits,” he concluded. “It’s about dismantling outdated systems, enforcing protocols, and ensuring that ordinary West Africans can feel the benefits of regional integration in their daily lives.”
For many in West Africa, his message resonates: after 49 years of existence, it’s time for ECOWAS to match its promises with tangible progress.