The Executive Secretary of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF), 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, 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 in West Africa.
The WATAF delegation included representatives of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Shettima Tamadi, Executive Director for Policy and Compliance; Kehinde Kajemoso, Chairperson of WATAF’s International Tax Committee; Dr. Sidnoma Nita, Research Manager at WATAF; and Danicius Kaihenneh Sengbeh, WATAF Communication and IT Manager.
Mr. Tapsoba thanked Dr. Touray for availing himself to host the WATAF delegation, and commended the continued support and partnership ECOWAS has provided to WATAF since the Forum was established in 2011.
He emphasized WATAF’s readiness to elevate the collaboration to a higher strategic level.
Tapsoba 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 in West Africa.”
Tapsoba 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 (MoU) between ECOWAS and WATAF be extended to a three-year framework with enhanced support mechanisms.
He 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 in the subregion.
Tapsoba added: “WATAF’s engagement with partners is also extending to other strategic institutions, including the Afreximbank.”
As part of WATAF’s growing regional and international engagement, he 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 Dr. Touray in appreciation of his “visionary leadership, steadfast commitment to regional integration, and dedication to economic development and prosperity in West Africa.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Tamadi, who spoke on behalf of NRS, which hosts the WATAF Secretariat, said, the Service was pleased to continue supporting WATAF for the remarkable work the Forum is doing in strengthening tax and customs administrations in the region.
Also speaking on behalf of the WATAF delegation, 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, Dr. Touray, warmly welcomed the WATAF delegation, and commended the Forum for its “great work” in strengthening tax and customs systems in West Africa.
“The more revenue we collect, the more development we will have in West Africa,”
Dr. Touray said, 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.
He reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to support 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.
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.