THE NEW ECOWAS HEADQUARTERS IN ABUJA IS NEARLY COMPLETION

The new headquarters complex in Abuja, Nigeria, which will house the Commission, Parliament and Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), will be operational in March 2026.

This was revealed during a visit to the building site on Thursday, 29 January 2026, by a large delegation from the ECOWAS Commission management led by its President, Dr Omar Alieu Touray.

Built on a 7-hectare site along the road to Abuja Airport, the building is currently 96% complete. The remaining 4% involves general refurbishment work on the buildings (already underway), as well as defect rectification, testing and commissioning (pending).

Known as the ‘Eye of West Africa’, the new ECOWAS headquarters complex is entirely funded and built by the People’s Republic of China through the China International Development Cooperation Agency (China Aid).

It is a modern and functional administrative building, designed to meet the needs of the West African organisation. It will provide services to create a favourable working environment for the community’s staff members.

The new complex comprises a main administrative building with three restaurants/cafeterias, banking rooms, a crèche, a gym and three blocks containing 899 workstations: block A (central) has 11 floors, blocks B and C have eight floors each.

It also includes a multi-purpose building with security facilities, shops, a water tank and archive rooms, as well as car parks with a total capacity of 702 parking spaces, a 720-seat auditorium, two committee rooms, a conference room, an equipment room, guard posts and a helipad.

The new ECOWAS headquarters complex is seen as a symbol of the strengthening cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and the regional organisation. It is part of a technical and institutional partnership aimed at further supporting ECOWAS’ operational capacities, as well as part of ongoing cooperation between the two parties.

The President and Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray and Ms Damtien Larbli Tchintchibidja, expressed ECOWAS’ deep gratitude and sincere appreciation to China for its commitment and support to the regional organisation through the construction of this jewel, seen as a ‘symbol of Beijing’s commitment’ to West African integration.

According to Dr Omar Alieu Touray, the new ECOWAS headquarters complex will enable greater operational efficiency, reduced costs and increased staff productivity.