Nigeria, Others Move To Reopen Borders

The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has agreed on proposals on the need for joint and coordinated efforts in the reopening of international borders.
ECOWAS at its 57th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government held on September 7, 2020 in Niamey, Republic of Niger, under the chairmanship of President of the Republic of Niger, lssoufou Mahamadou, said this was designed to ensure an effective regional response to the fight against Covid-19 and revive the respective economies.
In this regard, the Heads of State and Government endorsed immediate application of the ECOWAS Harmonised Guidelines on Cross-Border Transport, Trade and Health Protocols in the Covid-19 Pandemic and Post-Recovery within the ECOWAS Region recommended by the Ministerial Coordination Committees on Health and Transport and Trade.
The Authority urged the Member States, the Commission, and WAHO to propose urgently a strategy for the availability of anti-Covid-19 vaccines in the ECOWAS Region and support for the creation of pharmaceutical industries.
“In this regard, the Heads of State and Government direct the President of the Commission to constitute a team of experts to conduct a feasibility study on production of vaccines within the region”.
The Authority also asked the military junta in Mali to appoint a civilian transition head by September 15.
It would be recalled that Mali’s military ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on August 18, following weeks of protests in the country.