By Olugbenga Salami
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin on Thursday said democratic institutions in West Africa need constant reinforcement to withstand new political and security challenges.
Speaking at the Voice of Nigeria Forum in Abuja, marking 51 years of Nigeria’s role in the Economic Community of West Africa States, ECOWAS stability, he told media executives, diplomats and lawmakers that progress is real but unfinished.
“Recent developments remind us institutions must continually be strengthened,” the Deputy Senate President said, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir.
Parliaments, Barau, who is also the first Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, argued, guard accountability, transparency and constitutional order—key pillars of lasting democracy.
He pledged that Nigeria’s National Assembly will keep bolstering oversight and policies that drive development and regional cooperation.
Barau informed that Nigerian legislators routinely engage counterparts across ECOWAS to promote dialogue and legislative diplomacy.
He, however, said “the ultimate test is improvement in citizens’ lives,” warning that structures alone are not enough.
Nigeria’s leadership in ECOWAS, he added, is a privilege that demands leading by example and partnership.
Stronger domestic institutions, Barau said, would help Nigeria remain a pillar of regional stability.
He charged the media with shaping Africa’s narrative, warning that misinformation threatens democratic culture.
“Credible media remain indispensable,” he urged forum participants reflecting on five decades of Nigeria‑ECOWAS engagement.
Strengthening democracy, Barau concluded, is a continuous responsibility requiring inclusive, responsive institutions, adding that the future of West Africa depends on shared commitment to peace, governance and solidarity.
He maintained that it’s only through that commitment that the sub-region could secure stability for its people.
