The President of ECOWAS Commission, H.E., Dr. Omar Alieu TOURAY, received a delegation from OTL Africa Downstream Development Africa Ltd/GTE , a pan-African downstream energy initiative, in audience which provided an opportunity to examine possible areas of collaboration in regional petroleum mid- and downstream regulation, trade facilitation and structured private sector engagement along the related value chain.

The engagement reflected the Commission’s continued commitment to strengthening dialogue with private sector actors whose work can contribute to regional integration, energy sector cooperation, investment facilitation and the smooth movement of goods and services across West Africa. It brought together senior officials of ECOWAS Commission, including the Acting Secretary-General , Mr. Muazu UMARU; the Director of Cabinet, Mr Abdou KOLLEY; the Director of Communication, Mr. Joël AHOFODJI; the Acting Director, Energy and Mines, Mr. William BAIDOE; and other officials of the Directorate of Communication.

Opening the meeting, the Director of Cabinet welcomed the delegation and introduced the senior officials of the Commission present, and invited OTL to present the purpose of their visit.

In her presentation, the Chief Executive Officer of OTL Africa Downstream Development Ltd/GTE, Madam Joyce E.E.E. AKABOGU, thanked the President of the Commission for granting her audience and congratulated the Commission on its new magnificent Headquarters. She described OTL as a hundred percent (100%) homegrown Pan-African downstream energy initiative, established in Nigeria with a strong continental focus.

Madam AKABOGU noted that OTL is marking its 20th anniversary this year, having spent two decades facilitating engagement across the downstream energy value chain. She stated that the initiative operates mainly within the downstream segment of the petroleum (energy) sector, but however, maintains relevant interfaces with the midstream sectorwhere natural linkages exist. She further highlighted the importance of dialogue among governments, regulators, regional institutions, private operators, investors and industry experts in addressing sectoral challenges and advancing practical cooperation.

Responding to the presentation, the President of ECOWAS Commission, H.E., Dr. Omar Alieu TOURAY, commended the Initiative and noted that it had brought forward an important area for regional reflection. He stated that, where there has been an oversight in regional regulation, it is appropriate to engage the relevant technical departments to make a proposal for consideration by the Member States to the effect.

H.E., Dr. TOURAY explained that any regional regulatory initiative would have to follow established ECOWAS institutional processes, including consultations with Member States, including consideration by the Sector Ministers, and where required, submission to the Authority of Heads of State and Government. He emphasized that such processes require sustained dialogue, as Member States endeavor to build consensus on the subject in reference, particularly, in regard to policy options (priorities), taxation issues, nature of the market, including suppliers and consumers.

The President also underscored the importance of trade facilitation, noting that practical measures to ease regional trade may, in some instances, be advanced without waiting for the adoption of new regulations, provided they are consistent with existing regional trade instruments, including the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS). He observed that establishing a free trade area is an important, but it is as well essential to ensure that goods move smoothly across borders and beyond.

H.E., Dr. TOURAY encouraged OTL Africa to continue the technical engagements with relevant ECOWAS Departments for the necessary recommendations to the decision-making bodies of the Community.

The Acting Secretary-General of ECOWAS Commission, Mr Muazu UMARU, highlighted the relevance of the ECOWAS Business Council as a strategic platform for strengthening engagement between the private sector and Community institutions. He noted that the President of the Commission has promoted the Business Council as a mechanism to bring business actors and regional institutions into closer alignment, adding that opportunities could be explored for a thematic focus linked to the areas presented by OTL Africa.

The Acting Director, Energy and Mines, Mr. William BAIDOE, also welcomed the delegation and expressed readiness to deepen technical discussions with OTL Africa in order to better understand its areas of work to identify possible areas of collaboration. He noted that ECOWAS already has experience in developing sectoral platforms, including that of the National Chambers of Mines, and indicated that it may be possible to facilitate same with the mid- and downstream sector regulators i for regional endeavours in the energy and petroleum sectors.

In her closing remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of OTL Africa Madam Joyce E.E.E. AKABOGU, expressed appreciation to the President and senior officials of the Commission for the opportunity to present OTL’s work and engage on possible areas of collaboration. She reaffirmed OTL’s readiness to continue discussions with the relevant ECOWAS departments to move the issues raised to the next stage.

Madam AKABOGU also stressed the importance of ensuring that concerns emerging from the downstream energy sector are properly channeled to the appropriate policy and institutional platforms. She noted that concerns raised by stakeholders at operational level do not always reach the institutions and decision-makers best placed to respond to them and welcomed the opportunity for dialogue with ECOWAS as a step towards linking sectoral realities with regional policy processes.

The meeting reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to purposeful partnerships that connect policy, business and regional development priorities for the benefit of the citizens of West Africa, while advancing regional integration, energy cooperation, trade facilitation and the implementation of the ECOWAS Vision 2050.