Abuja, 7^th May, 2019. Representatives of the ad-hoc Ministerial Committee on the construction of the new headquarters of Community institutions for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on 7^th May 2019 in Abuja, Nigeria approved the proposal of the draft architectural plan of its headquarters which will be built through a $31.5 million financial grant and the technical assistance of the People’s Republic of China.

The Committee which met to monitor the progress and plans for the construction of the new headquarters also recommended that an implementation agreement between the ECOWAS Commission and the Chinese government be signed which will include the recruitment of consultants by the Commission to monitor its implementation and conduct an environmental impact study of the project.

They also called for the finalization of all administrative documents relating to the construction site. This will include the compensation of owners of plantations that are on the project’s site in conjunction with the Federal Capital Development Authority of Abuja.

Speaking during the meeting, the ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Infrastructure, Pathe Gueye, stated that the construction of the new headquarters had become imperative given that the geographical dispersion of the Community institutions in the city of Abuja has negative consequences such as delays in the implementation of projects, programs and policies which the Member States have entrusted to the Commission. He added that, “there are difficulties in coordination between departments which impede the productivity and efficiency of the Community’s personnel”.

The draft architectural plan for the new headquarters of the Community’s institutions undertaken by the Chinese consortium SIPPR Engineering group integrated elements of West African culture, site optimization, functionality, safety and security and took into account the expansion of the Commission in its design.

Speaking on behalf of Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Musa Sani Nuhu stated that construction of the new headquarters is expected to begin in January 2020 and should be completed within 22 months.

The third meeting of ad-hoc Ministerial committee on the construction of Community institutions was preceded by an experts meeting of representatives of Member States.