ABUJA, NIBERIA – The Executive Secretary of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF), Mr. Jules Tapsoba, on Tuesday, May 20, 2026, paid an official working and courtesy visit to the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, at the ECOWAS New Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.
The high-level engagement further strengthened the longstanding partnership between ECOWAS and WATAF, with both institutions reaffirming their shared commitment to regional integration, domestic revenue mobilization, tax harmonization, and sustainable economic development across West Africa.
The WATAF delegation included representatives of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), including Mr. Shettima Tamadi, Executive Director for Policy and Compliance; Mr. Kehinde Kajemoso, Chairperson of WATAF’s International Tax Committee; Dr. Sidnoma Nita, Research Manager at WATAF; and Mr. Danicius Kaihenneh Sengbeh, WATAF Communication and IT Manager.
During the meeting, Mr. Tapsoba thanked the ECOWAS President for availing himself to hots the WATAF delegation at the Commission’s new headquarters and commended the continued support and partnership ECOWAS has provided to WATAF since the Forum’s establishment in 2011.
He emphasized WATAF’s readiness to elevate the collaboration to a higher strategic level.
He described WATAF as a key regional technical body on taxation and revenue administration, bringing together 16 West African countries, including nine French speaking, five English speaking, and two Portuguese speaking Member States.
“We are ready to strengthen our partnership with ECOWAS to support tax and customs administrations in the region, increase domestic revenue mobilization, and boost development across West Africa,” Mr. Tapsoba stated.
The WATAF Executive Secretary also highlighted the importance of stronger institutional cooperation in areas including tax policy coordination, regional tax harmonization, digitalization of tax administration systems, combating illicit financial flows, transfer pricing, and tax expenditure reporting.
He further called for increased technical and financial support from ECOWAS and other regional partners to expand WATAF’s capacity building initiatives. Mr. Tapsoba also requested that the existing annual technical support Memorandum of Understanding between ECOWAS and WATAF be extended to a three-year framework with enhanced support mechanisms.
Mr. Tapsoba commended the ongoing collaboration involving the African Development Bank (AfDB), coordinated through ECOWAS, and encouraged broader engagement with additional multilateral development partners to strengthen tax administration systems and domestic revenue mobilization efforts across the subregion. He added that WATAF’s engagement with partners is also extending to other strategic institutions, including the Afreximbank, among others.
As part of WATAF’s growing regional and international engagement, the Executive Secretary also sought ECOWAS support for stronger WATAF representation at the United Nations.
In recognition of his leadership and commitment to regional development, Mr. Tapsoba presented a special plaque to H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray in appreciation of his visionary leadership, steadfast commitment to regional integration, and dedication to economic development and prosperity in West Africa.
Meanwhile, Mr. Shettima Tamadi, speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Revenue Service, which hosts the WATAF Secretariat, said the NRS was pleased to continue supporting WATAF for the remarkable work the Forum is doing in strengthening tax and customs administrations across the region.
Also speaking on behalf of the WATAF delegation, Mr. Kehinde Kajemoso, Chairperson of WATAF’s Committee on International Tax Matters, described WATAF as a unified regional voice on global taxation and international taxing rights affecting West Africa.
In response, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, warmly welcomed the WATAF delegation and commended the Forum for what he described as its “great work” in strengthening tax and customs systems across West Africa.
“The more revenue we collect, the more development we will have in West Africa,” Dr. Touray stated, while emphasizing that Member States continue to look up to both ECOWAS and WATAF to strengthen tax and customs administrations capable of supporting sustainable development and regional integration.
Dr. Touray reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to supporting WATAF both technically and institutionally, while also pledging advocacy for increased funding and broader regional support to strengthen the Forum’s operational capacity and regional impact.
“We are here to support you,” the ECOWAS Commission President assured, while urging WATAF to continue working closely with the ECOWAS Directorate of Customs Union and Taxation to deepen, broaden, and streamline cooperation in support of West Africa’s development agenda.
He further pledged ECOWAS support for activities marking WATAF’s 15th Anniversary celebration scheduled for September 2026 and proposed additional technical engagements between both institutions to ensure stronger coordination, complementarity, and avoidance of duplication of activities.
Also speaking during the meeting, Mr. Darlingston Y. Talery, Acting Director of the Directorate of Customs Union and Taxation at the ECOWAS Commission, applauded the cordial working relationship between WATAF and his Directorate in advancing tax policy, customs cooperation, domestic revenue mobilization, and regional tax coordination across West Africa. He called for sustained technical engagement and proposed additional collaborative meetings to further align the activities of both institutions.
WATAF and ECOWAS continue to strengthen their strategic partnership aimed at enhancing domestic revenue mobilization, harmonizing tax systems, combating illicit financial flows, and supporting regional economic integration across West Africa. Through joint technical engagements, parliamentary dialogues, and regional policy initiatives, both institutions continue to support the implementation of regional tax directives, modernization and digitalization of tax administration systems, and the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to facilitate regional trade, economic growth, and sustainable development across the region.
About WATAF
The West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) is a regional body that brings together tax administrations across West Africa to strengthen domestic resource mobilization through cooperation, capacity development, and knowledge sharing. WATAF plays a leading role in shaping regional tax policy dialogue and supporting the modernization and harmonization of tax systems in line with regional and international standards.
