The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and the International Organisation for Migration, IOM, are stepping up efforts to strengthen regional migration management, with emphasis on free movement, labour mobility and the protection of vulnerable migrants.
The commitment followed a working visit by the IOM Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Sylvia Ekra, to the ECOWAS Commission headquarters in Abuja.
During the visit, the IOM delegation held high-level discussions with the Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, Anthony Ogunjimi, and Commissioners responsible for Economic Affairs and Agriculture as well as Human Development and Social Affairs.
The engagements provided an opportunity for both institutions to review their existing partnerships and identify areas requiring stronger cooperation.
Key priorities include; climate-induced migration, return and reintegration, migration governance and addressing displacement challenges across West Africa.
Both institutions also explored how IOM’s technical expertise and operational capacity could support ECOWAS-led initiatives, particularly in strengthening cross-border coordination and implementing regional commitments on human mobility.
The protection of migrants, especially vulnerable groups, also featured prominently, with emphasis on ensuring their safety, dignity and access to appropriate support.
ECOWAS stressed the need to translate regional commitments into measurable results that respond to the needs of Member States and citizens.
ECOWAS and IOM agreed to identify priority actions, establish realistic implementation timelines and explore joint initiatives and resource mobilisation to address existing gaps.
The engagement reaffirmed ECOWAS as IOM’s principal regional partner in West Africa, with both sides emphasising regional ownership and sustained institutional commitments to effective migration management.
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(Editor: Ken Eseni)
