Tinubu Calls for Industrial Transformation at ECOWAS Headquarters Inauguration

President Bola Tinubu has called for a strategic shift in West Africa’s economic model, urging member states to transition from a consumer-based regional market to a robust production base. The President made this appeal on Thursday during the commissioning of the new ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja, which he described as a symbol of regional resilience and renewed commitment to integration.

Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu emphasized that regional integration must move beyond rhetoric and aspirations toward practical economic transformation. He warned that a community reliant on consuming goods it does not produce remains vulnerable to the goodwill of external powers.

“The hour has come to transform our regional market into a regional production base,” the President stated, noting that the region’s future must be defined by deeper industrialization, stronger value chains, and increased manufacturing and investment.

The new complex, referred to as the “Eye of Africa,” was financed by the People’s Republic of China. The inauguration ceremony drew regional leaders and officials, including the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Julius Bio of Sierra Leone, who praised Nigeria’s enduring role as a central anchor for the bloc.

Addressing the evolving security and political landscape of West Africa, President Tinubu acknowledged the recent withdrawal of three member states. He stressed that integration can no longer be viewed solely through an economic lens, arguing that it must now serve as a comprehensive framework for collective security, political stability, and sustainable development.

While calling for renewed dialogue and solidarity to bring estranged members back into the fold, the President highlighted the significant challenges currently facing the region, including terrorism, food insecurity, and the needs of a rapidly growing youthful population.

Officials from the ECOWAS Commission and representatives from China reaffirmed their commitment to the partnership. The commission pledged to ensure the new headquarters serves as a focal point for regional transformation, while Chinese officials described the project as a milestone in the enduring relationship between China and the African continent.