Fifteen leaders of African nations signed a treaty today creating the largest single economic grouping in Africa the Economic Community of West African States. The Lagos treaty was signed by presidents and top ministers of Dahomey [Benin], Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, the Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Upper Volta [Burkina Faso], Mali, Guinea, Senegal and Ghana.
The communique said that the community would seek cooperation in industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial matters and social and cultural endevours.
The conference was chaired by Gen. Yakudu Gowan, head of state of Nigeria, the dominant economic member, whose population of 60 million is more that half of the combined total of all member states and whose oil earnings, which topped $8.8-billion last year, make it the strongest economic power in all of black Africa.
Source: New York Times
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