Leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) gathered in Lomé, Togo on Tuesday, to address the significantly high cost of air transport within the sub-region. The bloc aims to find solutions that will facilitate greater integration among West African nations.
Speaking at the opening of the joint meeting of the Sixth Legislature, Mr. Sekou Momadu, Co-Chair of the Delocalised Joint Committee on Infrastructure, Energy and Mines, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, highlighted that the prohibitive cost of airfares remains a major impediment to the successful integration of West African peoples.
Mr. Momadu stressed that these high airfares continue to undermine the progress made by the regional body. The theme of the meeting is “Air Transport as a Means of Integrating West African Peoples: A Strategy for Reducing Airfare Costs.”
He noted that despite ECOWAS’s achievements, the high cost of air travel stands out as a prominent obstacle. “Indeed, the prohibitive cost of airfare is a real obstacle to the benefits of successful integration for West African peoples who want to see their travel facilitated to strengthen ties among ECOWAS citizens, enable local entrepreneurs to expand their markets, allow investors to explore new opportunities, and promote regional tourism,” Mr. Momadu stated.
He recalled that the Authority of Heads of State and Government, at its 65th Summit held in Abuja, Nigeria, in July 2024, had already identified the cost of air travel within the ECOWAS region as one of the highest on the African continent. Mr. Momadu pointed out the anomaly where airfares within West Africa are excessively high compared to other global regions, sometimes even making it cheaper to travel outside the continent than between two ECOWAS member states.
“This situation is counterproductive to the vision of a borderless and interconnected region,” he added.
Mr. Momadu explained that the purpose of the meeting in Lomé is to develop solutions to reduce airfare costs within the region. “Our Supplementary Act requires us to engage with our constituents and share with them the challenges they face in order to make recommendations to the relevant authorities or institutions for applicable solutions,” he said.
The discussions will involve expert presentations, panel discussions, and direct exchanges with key stakeholders to explore strategies and policies aimed at lowering air travel costs. This will include examining best practices in regulatory reforms, infrastructure development, tax policies, and airline operations.
Add Comment