Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 69th ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Shettima is expected to join other West African leaders at the summit, which will be held on Sunday (today) at the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Communication (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, the summit will consider key policy decisions and resolutions, and leaders are expected to reaffirm their commitment to regional peace, democracy, economic growth and integration.

‘’The summit is part of ECOWAS’s mid-year statutory meetings, which bring together heads of state and government, ministers, senior officials and regional institutions to review progress on the bloc’s priorities, including security, democratic governance, trade, infrastructure and sustainable development, ‘’the statement said.

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‘’Key issues on the agenda include peace and security, democratic governance, economic integration, trade, infrastructure and sustainable development.

‘’The meeting is also expected to strengthen ECOWAS institutions and improve coordination as the region grapples with growing political, economic and security challenges.

‘’Ahead of the leaders’ summit, the administration and finance committee, the mediation and security council, and the council of ministers met in Freetown to review administrative, financial and institutional matters before forwarding recommendations to the authority of heads of state and government.

‘’As part of preparations, the Sierra Leonean government had inaugurated the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre and an ECOWAS Logistics Depot to support the meetings and future regional engagements.