REPORT ON CONFERENCE/LAUNCHING OF ECOWAS AGRICULTURAL TRADE ( EAT ) IN LOME, TOGO ON 6TH – 7TH MARCH 2023
The National President of FEBWE Nigeria, Iyalode Alaba Lawson MFR was invited to the above programme that took place in Lome, Togo on Monday 6th & Tuesday 7th March 2023.
The programme was sponsored by GIZ.
The programme took place in Sarakawa Hotel, Lome, Togo.
I left for Lome on Sunday 5th March and the programme kicked off on Monday, 6th March at 9.30am.
The Mission of this Conference is for a more integrated and Regional food trade sufficiency. This will help the Socio Economies challenges being faced by the sudden Climate Change.
The Mission of this launching is also to look into the followings :
• The problems facing Cross Border Trade and improve on it.
• Improve the food security in ECOWAS Region.
• Strengthen Regional Integration.
• Creation of jobs and income especially for Women and Youths.
• Many challenges that have not allowed ETLS policy work well must be looked into and be well implemented.
This will stop delay at the Regional Borders that presently allow perishable goods like tomatoes, onions and other food items to rotten away for staying too long at the border.
The Conference now suggested more advocacy and capacity buildings for officials involved.
It was also discovered that lack of political will to implement and comply with the ETLS by member States of the Region Leaders has hindered the progress. They must all put up necessary high commitment political will and abide with the policies.
To avoid food shortage in the Region, we must give priority to Agriculture.
Day 2 :
Participants were divided into 3 Groups.
Finally, the 3 groups submitted :
• GIZ should involve all National Chambers of Commerce of each country as well as FEWACCI ( Federation of West Africa Chambers of Commerce and Industry) because the Chambers issue Certificate of Origins.
• There should be Lobbying Group within the Region.
• A common certification within the Region. i.e. A certificate from your origin should take you to your destination.
• Access to Regional Mechanics Stop Overs for vehicles that develop problems during their trips.
• Dissemination of information to local languages.
• Justice to Women that have been harassed by securities across the Borders.
• Too many checkpoints must be looked into.
We all agreed that all these challenges must be looked into gradually and cannot be handled once.
The Conference/Launching ended on Tuesday evening.
I returned to Nigeria on Wednesday 8th of March 2023.
It is an opportunity to represent FEBWE Nigeria in this International program.
Thanks.
Iyalode Alaba Lawson MFR
National President,
FEBWE Nigeria.
