President Bola Tinubu has urged West African countries to shift from import-dependent, consumer-driven economies to a manufacturing-led regional economy, saying industrialisation, innovation and stronger local supply chains are key to reducing reliance on external support.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the commissioning of the new ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja, known as the “Eye of Africa,” Tinubu said regional integration must go beyond economic cooperation to address security challenges, climate change and political instability. He also called for sustained dialogue and reconciliation following the exit of three ECOWAS member states.
The modern headquarters was funded by the People’s Republic of China, a contribution hailed by Tinubu and ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Touray as a symbol of enduring international partnership.
ECOWAS Chairman and Sierra Leonean President Julius Bio praised Nigeria’s leadership within the bloc, stressing that the success of the new headquarters should ultimately be measured by the positive impact it has on the lives of the region’s 450 million people