ABUJA – President Bola Tinubu has called on West African nations to transform the region from a consumer-driven economy into a production powerhouse, describing the newly inaugurated Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) headquarters in Abuja as a symbol of renewed commitment to regional integration, peace and shared prosperity.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, Tinubu said the new complex, popularly known as the “Eye of Africa,” represents more than a physical structure, calling it a renewed covenant to strengthen unity, solidarity and economic cooperation across the sub-region.
“Today marks not only the inauguration of an impressive landmark but the renewal of our covenant with the ideals of regional integration, solidarity and shared prosperity,” the President said.
While noting that ECOWAS has made significant progress in peacebuilding, democratic governance, economic cooperation and the free movement of people, goods and services, Tinubu warned that the bloc must confront persistent challenges, including terrorism, violent extremism, economic vulnerability, food insecurity, climate change, public health threats and rising youth expectations.
He stressed that the next phase of regional integration must focus on industrialisation and economic self-reliance.
“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, for a community that consumes what it does not make will forever live at the mercy of the goodwill of others,” he said.
The President urged member states to deepen industrialisation, strengthen regional value chains, expand intra-regional trade, and promote innovation, manufacturing and investment as the foundation for sustainable growth.
Tinubu also addressed the recent withdrawal of three member states from the regional bloc, saying evolving security and political realities have shown that regional integration must extend beyond economic cooperation.
“Regional integration can no longer be an economic imperative alone. It has become a comprehensive framework for our collective security, political stability, sustainable development and the welfare of our peoples,” he stated.
He maintained that the bloc’s doors should remain open to countries that have chosen to leave, advocating renewed dialogue, stronger solidarity and shared responsibility.
The President commended Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, for his leadership, and praised the ECOWAS Commission for successfully delivering the project.
Tinubu also expressed appreciation to the Government of the People’s Republic of China for financing the construction of the headquarters, while acknowledging the contributions of Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group Company Limited, consultants, Nigerian partners and other stakeholders involved in the project.
“May every decision taken within these walls advance the peace, the unity, the prosperity and the dignity of the peoples of West Africa,” he said.
In his remarks, President Julius Maada Bio described the new headquarters as an opportunity for member states to reaffirm their commitment to improving the lives of over 450 million people across West Africa.
“History does not remember generations for the buildings they construct, but for the lives they transform,” Bio said, while commending Nigeria for its consistent financial and leadership support to ECOWAS.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, thanked China for donating the facility, describing it as a lasting symbol of regional partnership and a hub for advancing the organisation’s expanding mandate.
China’s Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Yu Dunhai, said the inauguration reflects China’s enduring commitment to Africa’s integration, expressing confidence that future cooperation would continue to be built on mutual trust and support for Africa’s development aspirations.
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