President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to regional integration, peace, industrialisation and shared prosperity across West Africa following the inauguration of the new headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, President Tinubu described the new ECOWAS headquarters, popularly referred to as the “Eye of Africa,” as a symbol of renewal, resilience and confidence in the future of the regional bloc.
According to the President, the inauguration of the landmark edifice signifies more than the opening of a building, noting that it represents a renewed commitment to the ideals of regional integration, solidarity and shared prosperity that inspired the establishment of ECOWAS over five decades ago.
Tinubu commended ECOWAS for its achievements in peace-building, democratic governance, economic cooperation and the free movement of people, goods and services across the sub-region. However, he stressed that significant challenges remain, including terrorism, violent extremism, economic vulnerability, food insecurity, climate change, public health concerns and the growing expectations of the region’s youthful population.
The President urged member states to move beyond rhetoric and embrace practical economic transformation, calling for a shift from a regional market to a regional production base.
“The hour has come to transform our regional market into a regional production base. Our integration must increasingly be driven by what we produce rather than by what we consume,” he stated.
He emphasized the need for deeper industrialisation, stronger regional value chains, expanded intra-regional trade, innovation, manufacturing and investment to drive the next phase of West Africa’s development.
Addressing recent developments within the bloc, including the withdrawal of three member states, Tinubu noted that regional integration must now be viewed beyond economic cooperation and seen as a framework for collective security, political stability, sustainable development and the welfare of citizens.
He maintained that ECOWAS should keep its doors open for dialogue and engagement with countries that have chosen to leave the bloc, stressing the importance of solidarity and collective responsibility.
The President also commended Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, for his leadership, while congratulating the ECOWAS Commission for successfully delivering the project.
Tinubu expressed appreciation to the Government of the People’s Republic of China for financing the headquarters complex and acknowledged the contributions of Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group Company Limited, consultants and other stakeholders involved in the project.
In his remarks, Julius Maada Bio described the new headquarters as an opportunity for member states to renew their commitment to the over 450 million people of West Africa and strengthen the effectiveness of the regional body.
He praised Nigeria’s unwavering support for ECOWAS, describing the country as “a great anchor” of the bloc, while also acknowledging China’s role in providing the facility.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, thanked the Chinese government for what he described as a generous donation and expressed confidence that the new headquarters would serve as a centre for regional transformation, coordination and social stability.
Similarly, China’s Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Yu Dunhai, said the project reflects China’s enduring partnership with Africa and its commitment to supporting regional integration and development across the continent.
The new ECOWAS headquarters is expected to enhance coordination among member states and strengthen the institution’s capacity to address emerging political, economic and security challenges in West Africa.
