Nigeria on Monday emerged the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Group at the United Nations .

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria replaced the Republic of Togo as chairman of the 15-nation sub-regional group.

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Tijjani Bande took over from his Togolese counterpart, Ambassador Franck Kpayedo at the group’s meeting held in New York.

Speaking shortly after his emergence, Bande said Nigeria had always worked with other member-states of the group as brothers, including agreements on candidatures at the UN without conflicts.

“Nigeria wants to make sure that we continue to work for the stability and general wellbeing of the sub-region and the region, and as much as possible, we should speak with one voice.

“We should also speak with one voice outside the continent because West Africa works collaboratively with all other sub-regions on the continent.

“Nigeria will do the best it can to strengthen the bonds of friendship within the region and do the work we are here to do at this very important platform in a better way and with more assured results for the benefit of all.

“The West African sub-region has seen better coordination than most sub-regions that operate here at the UN.

“We have dealt, like at the ECOWAS Commission back home, with matters, particularly to do with stability of the region to the satisfaction of all, even for difficult situations,” Bande said.

Bande further pledged that Nigeria would continue to do all it could to help coordinate the Group’s work, adding that throughout his tenure, the country would provide examplary leadership on all issues throughout his tenure.