The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reiterated its commitment to fighting corruption in African countries, including Nigeria, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, News About Nigeria reports.
The ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof. Fatou Sarr, made this known during a news conference at the commission’s headquarters, on Friday in Abuja.
She disclosed that ECOWAS has allocated a sum of 25 million dollars to this effect.
Sarr noted that four million dollars of the amount was dedicated to humanitarian action, and would be used to curb the devastating consequences of terrorism and mitigate the fallout of natural disasters in the sub-region.
She added that the humanitarian actions were critical because of the multiple crises and displacements within the community.
According to her, such actions never stop, even when the target country is under sanctions.
“In 2024, ECOWAS has released 9 million dollars for internally displaced people, refugees, and asylum seekers, as well as for the communities that welcome them (i.e., all 15 countries).
“ECOWAS has allocated one million dollars for stabilisation in Nigeria, that is, victims of terrorism, displaced people, injured people, rehabilitation, and strengthening community resilience.
“Out of a fund of 25 million dollars intended for the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, ECOWAS has reserved 4 million dollars for humanitarian actions,” she explained.
Sarr said that in 2023 alone, ECOWAS provided support of over 12. 6 million dollars to four million out of the 8.5 million victims of violent conflicts and disasters across West Africa.
She noted that the Republic of Guinea, while under sanctions in January, received $600,000, of which $100,000 was allocated to fire disasters, and $499,390 for floods in the country.
