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ECOWAS Sounds Alarm as 90% of West Africa’s Economy Remains Informal
ECOWAS Sounds Alarm as 90% of West Africa’s Economy Remains Informal
…Parliament pushes sweeping reforms to unlock MSMEs, create jobs, tackle insecurity
By: Michael Mike
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has raised concern over the dominance of the informal sector in West Africa, warning that nearly 90 per cent of economic activities and at least 60 per cent of the region’s workforce remain outside the formal economy, a situation lawmakers said is undermining economic growth, job creation and regional competitiveness.
The parliament on Monday called for far-reaching policy reforms to formalise and strengthen Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), describing the sector as central to achieving economic transformation, reducing poverty and addressing insecurity across the sub-region.
The warning came at the opening of a Joint Committee meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, where lawmakers, policy experts, private sector operators and development partners began deliberations on strategies to integrate millions of informal businesses into the formal economy.
Delivering the opening remarks on behalf of the Joint Committee on Industry and Private Sector, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research, Administration, Finance and Budget, and Public Accounts, Co-Chairperson, Hon. Alhagie Darbo said the statistics reflected both the entrepreneurial resilience of West Africans and the failure of existing policies to support business growth.
According to him, while MSMEs remain the backbone of local economies by creating jobs, driving innovation, promoting entrepreneurship, empowering women and youths and facilitating cross-border trade, the overwhelming majority continue to operate informally, preventing them from accessing finance, technology, markets, business support services and legal protection.
“It is estimated that the informal sector accounts for nearly 90 per cent of economic activities and employs not less than 60 per cent of our labour force across member states,” Darbo said.
“While this demonstrates the entrepreneurial spirit of our people, it also highlights the urgent need to create enabling policies that encourage formalisation, improve productivity and integrate MSMEs into regional and continental value chains.”
He stressed that formalising small businesses was no longer just an economic objective but a strategic necessity for poverty reduction, sustainable development and regional integration.
Darbo urged ECOWAS member states to dismantle barriers limiting the growth of MSMEs through harmonised policies, improved access to finance, digital transformation, stronger productive capacity and greater participation in regional value chains under both the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He noted that the objectives align with ECOWAS Vision 2050, the regional bloc’s long-term development agenda aimed at building a peaceful, prosperous and fully integrated West Africa driven by inclusive economic growth.
Declaring the meeting open, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, represented by Second Deputy Speaker Hon. Adjaratou Coulibaly, linked economic empowerment to the region’s growing security challenges.
She argued that expanding opportunities for women and young people through thriving MSMEs would help reduce unemployment and address some of the underlying drivers of insecurity confronting several ECOWAS member states.
According to her, empowering citizens to participate meaningfully in economic activities is one of the most effective long-term strategies for promoting peace and stability in the region.
The committee is expected to produce recommendations for consideration by ECOWAS institutions and member states, with the aim of creating a more business-friendly environment capable of accelerating industrialisation, boosting intra-African trade and making West African economies more globally competitive.
MSMEs account for more than 90 per cent of businesses in many African countries and are recognised as the largest source of employment outside government. Despite their importance, many operate in the informal economy because of burdensome regulations, multiple taxation, inadequate infrastructure, limited access to affordable finance and weak institutional support.
The challenge has become more pressing as ECOWAS intensifies efforts to deepen regional integration through the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the African Continental Free Trade Area, both of which require competitive and formalised businesses capable of participating in cross-border commerce.
Economic experts have repeatedly argued that bringing more businesses into the formal sector would expand government revenues, improve access to credit, strengthen productivity and position West Africa to compete more effectively in the global economy.
ECOWAS Sounds Alarm as 90% of West Africa’s Economy Remains Informal
Troops gun down kidnapper, recover locally fabricated rifle made in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 6, Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP), have neutralised a suspected kidnapper during a gun battle with a group of kidnappers at Angwan Boka in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The troops, who were deployed in the area, engaged the suspected kidnappers at about 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, following a report of their activities in the area.
During the encounter, the troops brought their superior firepower to bear, neutralising one of the kidnappers, while others fled into the surrounding area.
The troops subsequently exploited the area and recovered one locally fabricated AK-47 rifle loaded with six rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that troops are currently conducting clearance operations in the area to track down and neutralise other fleeing members of the kidnapping gang.
The operation is part of ongoing efforts by troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE to disrupt criminal activities and improve security across Plateau State.
Troops gun down kidnapper, recover locally fabricated rifle made in Plateau
Mailantarki table tennis camp opens in Abuja
The highly anticipated high-performance table tennis training camp has officially commenced in Abuja, featuring six carefully selected young talents. The intensive program is being spearheaded by certified International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) High-Performance Coach, Nasiru Bello, who has taken charge of preparing these rising stars for upcoming international championships.
This is contained in a press statement issued to journalists by Mr Adamu Usman Ahmed, Mailantarki’s media aide.
The highly organized camp, fully sponsored by the NTTF Vice President, Honourable Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, further underscores his unwavering commitment, passion, and continuous philanthropic gestures toward sports development in Northern Nigeria and the country at large.
Speaking on the opening day of the camp on Tuesday, Hon. Mailantarki expressed absolute confidence that the veteran coach will equip the players with the elite skills required to compete successfully on the global stage.
“I am deeply delighted to get this camping exercise underway in order to prepare our young talents to attain the highest level of the game,” Hon. Mailantarki stated.
“The choice of Coach Nasiru Bello, who happens to be the former NTTF Technical Director, will massively benefit these players. He has exactly what it takes to ensure they are fully prepared for international championships when the opportunity arises.”
The NTTF Vice President also hinted at massive plans for the future, adding; “We are just starting, we still have other developmental programs in the pipeline across various zones in the country.”
The high-performance camp which is well attended by young upcoming global stars Mathew Fabunmi, Mustapha mukhtar, Joseph Marvelous, Dominion Joseph, Joseph victor and Harison Jacob, is scheduled to run for one week, concluding with a grand closing and award ceremony on Monday, 14th September 2026.
Mailantarki table tennis camp opens in Abuja
Nigeria Condemns Fresh Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has condemned the latest attacks by Houthi forces in Yemen on Saudi Arabia, warning that the renewed hostilities pose a grave threat to regional stability and could further endanger civilians and disrupt global energy supplies.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, said the attacks, which occurred on Monday, September 7, 2026, injured scores of civilians and damaged civil infrastructure in the Kingdom.
Nigeria described the development as a serious threat to the security and sovereignty of Saudi Arabia, as well as a potential source of wider instability across the Middle East.
The government urged all parties involved in the conflict to respect international law and exercise maximum restraint, stressing that further military actions could worsen the situation and place more civilian lives at risk.
Nigeria also warned against actions capable of disrupting the flow of global energy supplies, highlighting the wider economic consequences that prolonged instability in the Middle East could have on countries dependent on the region for energy.
The latest attacks come against the backdrop of the protracted conflict in Yemen involving the Iran-aligned Houthi movement and forces supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, seized control of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, triggering a wider conflict that drew in Saudi Arabia and a coalition of Arab states. Saudi Arabia subsequently led a military intervention in Yemen in 2015 in support of the Yemeni government.
The conflict has since developed into one of the Middle East’s most complex security crises, with repeated missile and drone attacks by the Houthis targeting Saudi territory at various points during the conflict.
Although Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have pursued dialogue and de-escalation efforts in recent years, tensions in and around Yemen have remained closely linked to broader regional conflicts and security developments.
The Houthis have also emerged as a significant actor in regional maritime security, particularly following attacks launched against commercial shipping in the Red Sea amid the wider Middle East crisis. The developments have raised concerns over international trade, shipping routes and energy supplies.
Against this background, Nigeria urged all sides to avoid steps that could trigger further escalation.
The Federal Government said renewed violence could undermine ongoing efforts to promote peace and stability in the region while exposing more civilians and critical infrastructure to danger.
Nigeria expressed solidarity with the government and people of Saudi Arabia and wished those injured in the attacks a speedy recovery.
The government also reiterated its commitment to supporting peace processes and conciliatory frameworks capable of promoting regional peace, international security and stability.
It stressed that diplomatic efforts remain essential to preventing further escalation and creating conditions for lasting peace, shared prosperity and development in the Middle East.
Nigeria Condemns Fresh Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia
Troops gun down kidnapper, recover locally fabricated rifle made in Plateau
Mailantarki table tennis camp opens in Abuja
Nigeria Condemns Fresh Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia
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