The president of the Ecowas Commission, Dr Omar Touray, has described China as West Africa’s most strategic partner during the handover of a new headquarters complex in Abuja. China funded and built the multimillion-dollar facility, which Touray said will drive regional integration. Chinese and Nigerian officials praised the deepening ties at the ceremony.
Dr Omar Touray, president of the Ecowas Commission, received the symbolic key to the new headquarters from Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria and Ecowas, Yu Dunhai, at a ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday.
Touray highlighted China’s past support, including strategic military equipment and vehicles for Ecowas Standby Force activities. “This and many more support spread around our Member States, make China a very strategic partner to West Africa,” he said. He added that the complex would foster peace and prosperity for Ecowas citizens.
Yu Dunhai described the project as a historic moment in the three-decade relationship between China and the sub-region, based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation. “Our cooperation is beyond traditional infrastructure. Now we expand our cooperation in the digital economy, green economy and modern agriculture,” he stated.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, called Ecowas Africa’s most dynamic regional bloc and said the headquarters would strengthen collaboration. The project, executed by Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group Corporation, cost about $56 million and was completed in two years since starting in 2023.
The facility includes parking for 702 vehicles, a two-story conference centre with 800 seats, and modern interpretation equipment.
