West Africa is taking a decisive step toward a more integrated future. On February 20, 2025, at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with the European Union (EU), officially launched the second phase of the Support to Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa (FMM West Africa II) Project. This initiative reaffirms the region’s commitment to free movement and strengthens migration governance and economic integration across West Africa.

The event was attended by the Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, the Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Massimo De Luca, and the Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration at the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Albert Siaw-Boateng, representing the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs Massandje Toure-Litse. Also present were senior ECOWAS officials such as the Chairperson and members of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), representatives from EU Member States, development partners, and key stakeholders in migration and regional integration. Their participation underscored the collective commitment to ensuring that migration becomes a driver of economic growth, security, and social cohesion in West Africa.

Delivering the opening remarks, the Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, reaffirmed ECOWAS’ dedication to regional mobility and economic cooperation, stating, “Migration has always been a fundamental part of West Africa’s history and development. FMM II will reinforce the frameworks that enable people to move safely and contribute to economic prosperity. Today, we take a decisive step toward making migration a source of opportunity, not a challenge.”

Speaking on behalf of the European Union, the Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Massimo De Luca, emphasised the EU’s continued support for migration governance in the region, noting, “The European Union remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting ECOWAS in building a robust migration system. Through FMM II, we are strengthening institutional frameworks to ensure migration is safe, structured, and beneficial for all.”

In her welcome remarks, read on her behalf by the Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration at the ECOWAS Commission, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs. Massandje Touré-Litse, provided insight into the operational objectives of the project. She outlined FMM II’s role in improving migration frameworks, stating, “This second phase will enhance legal frameworks, improve border management, and support Member States in implementing policies that facilitate free movement while ensuring security and social stability.”

Funded by the European Union, FMM II will be implemented by a consortium of key migration agencies, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). Over the next phase, the initiative will work closely with ECOWAS Member States to align national policies with regional frameworks, enhance institutional capacity, and foster safe, wellgoverned migration across West Africa.

The launch of FMM II marks a significant milestone in regional cooperation, reinforcing ECOWAS’ vision for a borderless, economically integrated, and socially cohesive West Africa. As migration continues to shape global economies and security policies, ECOWAS and the EU are demonstrating that mobility, when well-managed, is not a crisis — it is the future.

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For more information, please contact

• For IOM: François-Xavier Ada-Affana, Media and Communications Officer. Email: fadaaffana@iom.int.
• For ECOWAS: Directorate of Communication, ECOWAS Commission.