President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, has described China as West Africa’s most strategic partner, noting that China’s multifaceted engagement with the sub-region will continue to deepen.
Touray made the remarks during the handover ceremony of the new multimillion-dollar ECOWAS headquarters complex, funded and built for the commission by China.
He recalled China’s previous partnerships with ECOWAS, including providing strategic military equipment and vehicles to support the deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force.
“This is not the first time China has partnered with ECOWAS to strengthen regional integration,” Touray said. “In the recent past, the Government of the People’s Republic of China provided critical support to our regional peace and security efforts. Such support across our member states makes China a very strategic partner for West Africa.”
Touray added that the new headquarters complex would serve as a key instrument for driving regional integration and fostering peace and prosperity for all ECOWAS citizens.
“As we accept the keys to the new ECOWAS Headquarters today, we honor the legacy of our Founding Fathers, the giants who established this remarkable regional community,” he said. “We pledge to create an even greater legacy for future generations through the ECOWAS of the Future.”
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Yu Dunhai, described the project as a historic milestone in the three-decade relationship between China and the sub-region. He highlighted the expansion of cooperation into the digital economy, green economy, and modern agriculture.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, called ECOWAS Africa’s most dynamic regional bloc, emphasizing that the new headquarters would strengthen institutional effectiveness and enhance collaboration among member states.
The project, executed by Chinese contractor Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group Corporation (SCEGC), began in 2023, cost approximately $56 million, and was completed within two years.
The headquarters includes a two-story conference center with an 800-seat capacity, advanced interpretation and audiovisual equipment, a modern press briefing area, meeting rooms, training facilities, and parking for 702 vehicles. The facility is designed to accommodate all ECOWAS Commission personnel and some project staff, symbolizing the deepening ties between Africa and China through South-South cooperation.
