China Delivers $56.57m ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja to Boost Regional Cooperation

0 2 minutes read

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has officially received a newly completed headquarters complex in Abuja, a $56.57 million project funded by China to enhance regional integration and institutional efficiency across West Africa.

At the handover ceremony held on Tuesday in Abuja, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, described the development as a major milestone for the regional bloc. He noted that construction, which began with a groundbreaking ceremony in October 2023, was completed in roughly two years—an achievement he commended given the scale and complexity of the project.

Touray said the project underscores strong collaboration between ECOWAS and its international partners. According to him, the Chinese government provided funding of about 368 million RMB, equivalent to $56.57 million.

The facility was constructed by Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group Corporation, with supervision from Chinese and international consultants, including SIPPR and AIM Consultancy.

He explained that the new headquarters is designed as a fully integrated complex that will house Commission staff and project teams, improving workflow, coordination, and operational efficiency. He added that the structure will serve as a strategic hub for advancing regional integration, peace, and economic cooperation across member states.

China’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, described the building as a symbol of deepening cooperation between China and West Africa. He said the modern, intelligent, and multifunctional facility blends Chinese engineering with elements of West African cultural identity and will strengthen ECOWAS’ operational capacity.

In her remarks, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the project represents more than infrastructure, calling it a reflection of regional unity and institutional progress. She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to ECOWAS under Bola Ahmed Tinubu and commended China for sustaining its partnership with Africa.

The complex features a nine-storey central office block with two adjoining seven-storey wings. It includes meeting rooms equipped with interpretation systems, archives, kitchenettes, and staff support facilities.

Other amenities include a clinic, gym, banking services, retail shops, restaurants, a server room, daycare centre, and exhibition space. A two-storey conference centre with an 800-seat capacity, modern audiovisual systems, press briefing rooms, and training facilities is also part of the development. The site further provides security quarters, maintenance areas, storage units, and parking space for over 700 vehicles.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari was also recognised for initiating the project during its groundbreaking phase in 2022.