Leaders and representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are meeting in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital. The summit is to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the regional body. ECOWAS was set up on 28 May 1975 with 16 members to manage the regional economic and political integration of the region. Over the years, it has witnessed some strategic depletion of its membership in addition to a burden of security challenges, which will form part of its discussions as the regional leaders review its successes and failures. Collins Nosa Atohengbe filed this report.

<p>Leaders and representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are meeting in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital. The summit is to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the regional body. ECOWAS was set up on 28 May 1975 with 16 members to manage the regional economic and political integration of the region. Over the years, it has witnessed some strategic depletion of its membership in addition to a burden of security challenges, which will form part of its discussions as the regional leaders review its successes and failures. Collins Nosa Atohengbe filed this report.</p>