Leaders of ECOWAS formally lay the foundation stone for the organization's new headquarters in Abuja.

 

On December 4, 2022, in Abuja, Nigeria, the Economic Community of West African States' (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government lay the foundation stone for a new ECOWAS headquarters building. It will take 26 months to finish the new headquarters Project, which is being funded by the Chinese government through China Aid.

Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, thanked the Chinese Government for providing technical and financial support for the building of the headquarters in his opening remarks. The Federal Republic of Nigeria was also thanked for providing the seven hectare plot along the Airport Road in Abuja for the building project. The ECOWAS Commission now runs out of three locations in Abuja, he continued, so the new headquarters will increase employee productivity and save operational costs.

The People's Republic of China's ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS, H.E. Cui Jianchun, stated that China is eager to strengthen its diplomatic ties with Africa by providing funding for initiatives like the new ECOWAS Commission headquarters. He emphasized that these structures show China's genuine commitment to fostering the region's unity, peace, and prosperity, as well as her efforts to support and promote Africa's infrastructure development program.

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H. E. Muhammadu Buhari, emphasized in his remarks that the project shows China's commitment to the West African subregional bloc and evidence of a strong and cooperative relationship between Africa and China. ECOWAS Member States' solidarity and fraternity are symbolized by the new Headquarters, he continued, and it represents a renewed commitment to regional integration and the development of the sub-nations. region's He expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for providing the building with technical and monetary help.

President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, H.E. Umaro Sissoco Embaló, commended the Federal Republic of Nigerian government for its assistance in realizing the building complex. He claimed that the ECOWAS Commission workforce will be better able to accomplish their tasks and will have a better working environment thanks to the new and modern headquarters.

The ECOWAS Commission, Community Court of Justice, and ECOWAS Parliament will all have offices at the new ECOWAS Headquarters, which is located in Abuja, Nigeria.

APO Group is distributing this material on the Economic Community of West African States' behalf (ECOWAS).