WELCOME STATEMENT BY H.E MUHAMMADU BUHARI AT THE ECOWAS SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT

50TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ECOWAS SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT, 17 DECEMBER 2016, ABUJA, NIGERIA.

WELCOME STATEMENT BY H.E MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

1. It is indeed a great pleasure for me to welcome you to Nigeria and to the 50th Ordinary Session of the Authority and Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.

2. Allow me to start by congratulating us all for the peaceful elections held recently in the region. This is an indication of the growing commitment of the leadership and the people of the region to the principle of democracy and good governance.

3. Accordingly, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to H.E. President Jorge Carlos Fonseca on his re-election as the president of Cape Verde. My congratulations also go to the winner of the Ghanaian Presidential election, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, and to H.E. Mr. John Dramani Mahama for his display of maturity and statesmanship.

Latest FIFA Ranking: Nigeria Eagles Move Two Positions Up

Super Eagles of Nigeria were ranked 47th in the last Fifa rankings following their goalless draw with Mexico in last month’s international friendly, while Europe occupies the top three places on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking after Portugal climbed third behind leaders Spain and Germany.

They are followed by four South American sides in Colombia, (4th, up 1), Uruguay (5th, up 1) and fierce rivals Argentina (down 3) and Brazil (up 3), who share sixth position. Just 12 points separate this quartet. Greece return to the top ten for the first time since October 2012, while Scotland moved up 15 places to the 22nd position in the world.

Nigeria , Other West African Leaders Disagree with EU Trade Plans

ECOWAS leaders has  disagree with the European Union free trade deals . Nigeria and the rest of the regional block refused to open their economies to free trade with the European Union at a summit on Saturday.

Nigeria, the regional heavyweight Nigeria voiced concerns which stalled the deal of any further negotiations over the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) since ECOWAS countries resisted lifting tariff barriers over fears that they could crush nascent industries unable to cope with European imports.