President Bola Tinubu has emerged the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government on Sunday in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.

President Tinubu, who is the latest entrant into the exclusive club of Heads of State in West Africa, accepted the honour, on behalf of Nigeria, but warned that the threat to peace in the sub-region had reached an alarming proportion with terrorism and emerging pattern of military takeover that now demand urgent and concerted actions.

The new ECOWAS Chairman also called for improved private sector participation in the effort towards the economic development of Member States as well as their social integration.

In his welcome address, the outgone ECOWAS Chairman and President of Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo commended his fellow leaders for sustaining the vision of the organisation despite the global economic headwinds and trouble spots within the region.

He cited Mali, Burkina Faso and Republic of Guinea as countries where the constitutional order had been distorted while congratulating Nigeria and Sierra Leone for keeping constitutional order through democratic process after successful elections