China to construct new ECOWAS headquarters in Nigeria

China is set to construct a new ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria. This is after they signed a memorandum of understanding with The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

According to the agreement, Beijing will fund and build the new headquarters at a cost of US $32m. Also, China will maintain the new building for three years following its completion.

The development will consolidate ECOWAS operations in one building from the three it now uses. The number of staff in the commission had also increased making the development a necessity. The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Brou and the Ambassador of China to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Zhou Pingjian were present to sign for both parties during a bilateral meeting held at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters in Abuja. Brou thanked the Chinese government for the grant and further expressed the region’s Commitment to foster the ECOWAS-China cooperation.

Construction is set to commence soon and is projected to cater for offices and conference complex building, as well as road facilities, electrical equipment, parking lots and security posts within the proposed site of the project. The Economic Community of West African States is a 15-member regional group in Africa with a directive of promoting economic integration in all fields of activity of the constituting countries. Member countries that are part of ECOWAS include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’ Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo.