Mr David Adejuwon, the Director, Ministry of Trade and Investment, has called on ECOWAS member countries to embark on viable economic relations among themselves.
Adejuwon, who made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja while speaking with newsmen, said the ministry would be organising a stakeholders’ workshop in Lagos on Feb. 15, with a view to promoting trade among ECOWAS member countries.
He said Nigeria being the most populous nation in Africa was expected to take the lead in trade among ECOWAS countries as trade relations in the sub-region was only about 12 per cent.
Adejumo said necessary steps should be taken to improve trade among African countries instead of concentrating energies on trade with Europeans countries.
Adejuwon said that Nigeria with the largest domestic market in Sub-Sahara Africa had been faced with the challenges of inadequate infrastructure and inconsistent regulations on trade.
He expressed regret about the informal trading among West African countries, saying that adequate measures should be taken to address the challenges.?