President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Tuesday for Lagos as part of the ongoing celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), where he currently serves as Chairman of the regional bloc.
The golden jubilee events, which kicked off in Accra, Ghana last month, will continue in Lagos with several high-level activities. One major highlight is the symbolic reenactment of the original 1975 ECOWAS declaration at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Victoria Island.
President Tinubu is expected to deliver a keynote address at Eko Hotels and Suites, reflecting on ECOWAS’s achievements over the past five decades and outlining a vision for its future.
Among the dignitaries attending is General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), former Nigerian Head of State and the only surviving signatory to the original ECOWAS treaty, who will also deliver a special address.
Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, will give a welcome speech, while Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, former Minister of External Affairs and current NIIA Chairman, will present a comprehensive review of the regional body’s 50-year history. A panel of regional experts will participate in a discussion following the review.
During his visit, President Tinubu will commission several major infrastructure projects, including Section I of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Lekki Deep Sea Port Tax Credit Concrete Road, the flag-off of Section II of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, and the 7th Axial Road.
He will also virtually inaugurate critical road infrastructure in northern Nigeria, such as the Kano-Kanwar-Danja-Hadejiya Section II Road, Yakasai-Zalli Road, Kano Northern By-pass, Zaria-Hunkuyi-Dabai Section I, Dabai-Kafur-Malumfashi Road, and the Malumfashi-Dayi-Yashe-Gidan Mutum Daya Section III.
Before returning to Abuja, the President is scheduled to observe Eid-el-Kabir prayers at the State House Mosque in Dodan Barracks.
These anniversary activities underscore Nigeria’s leadership in West African integration and development, while also highlighting the Tinubu administration’s commitment to both regional diplomacy and transformative infrastructure delivery.