ECOWAS, IOM Strengthen Partnership on Migration and Free Movement in West Africa.

Abuja — ECOWAS and IOM are seeking stronger cooperation to improve migration management, labour mobility and reintegration across West Africa.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have agreed to expand their partnership to address key migration challenges and promote safer mobility across the West African region.

The renewed commitment covers several areas, including free movement, labour mobility, climate-related displacement, the return and reintegration of migrants, as well as migration governance.

The agreement followed a working visit by the IOM Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Sylvia Ekra, to the ECOWAS Commission headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.

During the visit, the IOM delegation held discussions with the Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, Anthony Ogunjimi, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Dehpue Zuo, and the Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Professor Nassirou Bako-Arifari.

Technical meetings were also organised with various departments of the regional commission to review existing areas of collaboration and identify opportunities for further engagement.

According to the ECOWAS Commission, both institutions assessed how their partnership could better address the priorities of member states and deliver practical benefits to citizens across the Community.

The renewed cooperation is expected to support regional integration and strengthen responses to the growing challenges of migration in West Africa.