President Tinubu advocates for West Africa as a production base at ECOWAS headquarters inauguration
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
President Bola Tinubu, speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima, emphasized the need for West Africa to transition from a regional market to a regional production base during the inauguration of the new Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja. He stated that the new complex, dubbed the “Eye of Africa,” symbolizes a renewed commitment to regional integration, peace, industrialization, and shared prosperity. Tinubu highlighted ECOWAS's progress in peacebuilding, democratic governance, and economic cooperation, but also acknowledged significant challenges such as terrorism, economic vulnerability, and food insecurity. He stressed that future integration must focus on practical economic transformation, deeper industrialization, stronger regional value chains, and expanded intra-regional trade. The President also addressed the withdrawal of three member states, noting that regional integration now encompasses collective security, political stability, and sustainable development. He commended the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Julius Bio of Sierra Leone, and the ECOWAS Commission for their leadership and the successful completion of the project. Both Tinubu and Bio expressed gratitude to the Government of the People's Republic of China for financing the new headquarters. Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, and Yu Dunhai, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, also spoke, emphasiz
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