President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated the new headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, describing the facility as a symbol of renewal, resilience, and confidence in the future of the regional bloc.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, President Tinubu said the new complex dubbed the “Eye of Africa” marks the renewal of a covenant with the ideals of regional integration, solidarity, and shared prosperity.
“The opening of this new headquarters will renew our commitment to regional integration, peace, industrialisation, and shared prosperity across West Africa,” Tinubu stated.
He highlighted ECOWAS’s achievements in peace-building, democratic governance, economic cooperation, and the free movement of people, goods, and services, but warned that the region faces serious challenges including terrorism, violent extremism, economic vulnerability, food insecurity, climate change, and public health issues.
The President called for a shift from a regional market to a regional production base. “Our integration must increasingly be driven by what we produce rather than by what we consume,” he emphasised, stressing the need for deeper industrialisation, stronger value chains, expanded intra-regional trade, innovation, manufacturing, and investment.
Addressing the recent withdrawal of three member states, Tinubu noted that integration must now encompass collective security, political stability, and sustainable development. He said the door remains open for dialogue and renewed solidarity.
President Tinubu commended Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio for his leadership of ECOWAS and thanked the ECOWAS Commission, the Government of China (which financed the project), and other partners involved in its delivery.
In their remarks, President Bio and ECOWAS Commission President Dr Omar Touray echoed the call for transformation and appreciated Nigeria’s leadership and China’s support.
The new headquarters is expected to serve as a centre for enhanced coordination and regional transformation.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com