By Sam Eyoboka
Only 17 per cent of internal trade take place in ECOWAS region, Community Development Programme (CDP) coordinator, Dr. Guevera Yao said.

Yao made the revelation in Lagos at the flag off a sensitization cum launching of a survey on Non State Actors (NSA).

At a one day workshop in Lagos to launch the Nigerian component of the initiative Yao said the premier objective of the NSA survey is to promote better visibility and sensitize NSAs and access the contribution of the NSAs to better understanding of ECOWAS socio-political needs.

Explaining the importance of the NSA Survey in the regional development Agenda, the coordinator said it would form a veritable platform to gauge the progress of the region especially in relation to what is happening in other regions of the world.

According to him, compared to what obtains outside the region, stating that by the end of this year “we hope to present a document to our heads of state conference.”

Mrs. Tunde Lawal who represented the government, said the workshop is unique, adding that the CDP report which was released in Kaduna will centre on how Nigeria and its states can key in to a development programme.

Stressing that the NSAs are crucial and important for the identification of several layers of a regional development process and deepen the engagement of NSA, adding that the aims and objectives include the promotion of better understanding among the states.

“Nigeria remains fully central to the development of West Africa especially through the support of NSA and development of a long term plan which is in line with the ECOWAS Vision 2020,” Mr. Lawal surmised.

Dr Yao later inaugurated a 15-man Non_State Actors (NSAs) monitoring committee that would
help achieve its Vision 2020 plans of improving the lot of Africans in the region. The members who are drawn from different sectors of the Nigerian economy including Labour, the organised private sector would serve as vocal persons to reach the masses in the country.

While urging them to be up and doing, Dr. Yao maintained said that the programme was also to inaugurate a survey in Nigeria that would enable ECOWAS gather and build a comprehensive database on activities of the NSAs.

“NSAs have a unique opportunity to play an increasing role in policy debates and development of the region in spite of the criticism that they are not representative enough of the grass root population,” he said.

Yao said that the team has till April 12, to submit the survey which would provide information on ways to improve the lives of people in African region.

Mr Yusuf Muda, Director General, Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the NSAs must contribute to improve and sustain social stability and development in the region.

He said that West Africa was endowed with abundance human and natural resources but it was regrettable that the society has realized little of Africa’s economic potential.