President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone has called for enhanced regional integration and strategic investment at the West Africa Economic Summit in Abuja. In his address, President Bio acknowledged Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for hosting the event and commended the organizers for uniting regional leaders to tackle shared challenges.
President Bio highlighted West Africa’s natural resources and young population as key opportunities for prosperity. He stressed the need for effective integration to address issues like rising debt, climate vulnerability, food insecurity, and global uncertainties. “As leaders facing global economic competition, we must take decisive actions to accelerate regional integration programmes vital for economic growth and shared prosperity,” he stated.
He noted Sierra Leone’s efforts in aligning with ECOWAS and AfCFTA protocols, such as product registration under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and modernizing customs infrastructure through ASYCUDA WORLD system implementation. The rollout of ECOWAS biometric ID cards was also mentioned as a step towards promoting regional mobility.
The President advocated for a monetary union, common currency, and increased investment in infrastructure, energy, and digital connectivity to reduce costs and facilitate movement across borders. Emphasizing youth empowerment through skills development and entrepreneurial support, he referred to them as “the heartbeat of our continent.”
On financing major projects like the West African Power Pool, President Bio suggested innovative models while urging harmonization of capital markets, fiscal regimes, and quality standards to enhance economic convergence.
Reaffirming Sierra Leone’s commitment to regional prosperity, he invited private sector actors, development partners, and African governments to invest in agriculture, energy, mining, tourism, and digital economy sectors. He pledged Sierra Leone’s readiness to collaborate towards a more integrated West Africa.