Abuja, 6^th July 2018. The Commissioner, Social Affairs and Gender of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr. Siga Fatima Jagne has called for a no cost extension of the “Support to ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on Illicit Drug Trafficking, related Organized Crimes and Drug Abuse in West Africa” project implementation period for 12 months.

Speaking during the 5^th Project Steering and Coordination Committee (PSCC) meeting of the EU Support to ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on Illicit Drug Trafficking, Related Crimes and Drug Abuse in West Africa, held in Abuja, Nigeria, on Thursday, 5^th July, 2018, Dr. Jagne said the extension will help to consolidate the gains so far made under the project as well as maximize the use of the project funds for effective delivery of the projects targets.

Dr. Jagne expressed satisfaction with the level of progress that the ECOWAS Commission has made towards improving ECOWAS Advocacy, Monitoring and Coordination Capacity. She also expressed ECOWAS Commission’s continued appreciation to EU for funding and UNODC for technical support in countering illicit drug trafficking, related organized crimes and drug abuse.

In her opening statement, the Head of Regional Cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Stefania Marrone, called on ECOWAS Commission and partners to sustain the current achievements in the harmonization of information on drug abuse, epidemiology and data collection beyond the Project period.

Marrone added that “the EU commends the current strides and interest shown towards the fight against illicit Drug Trafficking and other organized crimes, as a testament of ECOWAS’ commitment to evolve in its role as the primary coordinating institution within the sub-region”

The UNODC Regional Representative for West and Central Africa, Mr. Pierre Lapaque, also reiterated his organization’s commitment to the Project. He stressed the fact that the project was at a crucial stage and that all partners should begin to think about its sustainability beyond the current project life cycle.

As a planning, budgeting and monitoring tool for the effective management of the ECOWAS – EU – UNODC collaboration, the PSCC meets two times in a year in line with the ECOWAS-EU Financing Agreement. And its objectives include provision of oversight, approval of annual work plans and the validation of project results.