Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to work towards reintegrating Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso into the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) should he emerge victorious in the 2027 presidential election.
The ADC candidate made the commitment during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, where he laid out his vision for Nigeria’s foreign policy, security architecture and regional cooperation.
Atiku faulted ECOWAS for isolating the three Sahelian nations following the military takeovers that ushered in their current governments, describing the approach as misguided. He maintained that Nigeria and other member states of the regional bloc should prioritise dialogue and diplomacy over allowing political disagreements to inflict lasting damage on regional relations.
He said that, if elected, he would open talks with fellow ECOWAS leaders geared towards restoring trust and paving the way for Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to return to the bloc. He further floated the idea of deploying the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) to bolster regional security and reinforce the fight against terrorism across West Africa.
The former vice president took a swipe at Nigeria’s handling of ties with Niger since the 2023 coup, insisting that the deep historical, cultural and economic bonds between both nations should not be sacrificed on the altar of political developments.
“I don’t see why Nigeria should say it will not engage with Niger because there was a coup,” Atiku said, underscoring the tight-knit relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso formally exited ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, following extended friction with the bloc over military rule and its handling of the coups. The trio has since deepened cooperation through the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
If actualised, Atiku’s proposal would mark a major shift in Nigeria’s posture towards the three Sahel countries.
The ADC presidential hopeful also vowed to confront Nigeria’s insecurity crisis within his first year in office, pledging to boost security personnel numbers, upgrade their equipment, and expand employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
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