Head of ECOWAS Hails China as West Africa's Most Crucial Ally

At a ceremony held in Abuja on Tuesday, ECOWAS Commission President Dr Omar Touray, standing third from the right, received the symbolic key to the new ECOWAS Headquarters from Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Yu Dunhai, who was fourth from the right.

Dr Omar Touray praised China as West Africa's most strategic partner, highlighting the country's multifaceted engagement with the sub-region, which he said would continue to deepen, as evident at the handover ceremony for the new multimillion-dollar ECOWAS headquarters complex.

The complex, funded and built by China, is a testament to the country's previous partnerships with ECOWAS, including the provision of strategic military equipment and vehicles to support the deployment of ECOWAS Standby Force activities, according to Touray.

He recalled that China had provided significant support to ECOWAS' regional peace and security efforts in the past, making it a very strategic partner to West Africa, with numerous examples of cooperation spread across member states.

The new ECOWAS Headquarters Complex is expected to drive the regional integration process and foster enhanced peace and prosperity for all ECOWAS citizens, serving as a fitting instrument for this purpose, as noted by Touray.

As the keys to the new headquarters were accepted, Touray reflected on the legacy of ECOWAS' Founding Fathers, pledging to create an even greater legacy for future generations as the organization holds regional engagements on the ECOWAS of the Future.

Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Yu Dunhai, described the project as a historic moment in the three-decade-old relationship between China and the sub-region, which has continued to flourish on the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation.

The cooperation between China and the sub-region has expanded beyond traditional infrastructure to areas such as the digital economy, green economy, and modern agriculture, according to Ambassador Yu Dunhai.

Nigeria's Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, praised ECOWAS as Africa's most dynamic regional bloc, renowned for its contributions to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, democratic governance, and humanitarian response.

The new ECOWAS Headquarters Complex is expected to strengthen institutional effectiveness and improve collaboration among member states in responding to regional and global challenges, according to Amb. Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

The construction and delivery of the complex symbolize the deepening ties between Africa and China, anchored on mutual respect, shared prosperity, and South-South cooperation, as noted by Amb. Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

The project was executed by the Chinese Contractor, Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group Corporation (SCEGC), with work beginning in 2023 and completed within two years at a cost of about 56 million dollars.

China's construction of ECOWAS' new headquarters, similar to its construction of the African Union's Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, reflects its principles of South-South shared cooperation, development, and friendship.

The facility has a car parking area that can accommodate about 702 vehicles and is designed to accommodate all personnel of the ECOWAS Commission, along with some of its Project Staff, featuring a range of modern amenities.

The complex includes a two-story Conference Centre with 800 seating capacity, state-of-the-art interpretation equipment, audiovisual speakers, rotating seats, a modern press briefing area, meeting rooms with interpretation facilities, and a training room, among other features.