China and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Tuesday formalised a new phase in their relationship with the handover of a $56.5 million headquarters complex in Abuja, funded by the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
The ceremony drew senior regional and Nigerian officials, who described the project as a landmark symbol of cooperation and shared development priorities.
China’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said the event marked a historic moment in China–ECOWAS relations, which span nearly three decades.
“I think this is going to be the historical moment in the history of the friendly cooperation between China and ECOWAS. This is a great milestone. The China-ECOWAS relationship started roughly three decades ago. And this relationship is based on the principle of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation.
“Over the years, China and ECOWAS have continuously deepened our political mutual trust, strengthened our practical cooperation, enhanced our cooperation in peace and stability in the region, and also promoted people-to-people exchanges,” he said.
Dunhai described the facility — nicknamed the “Eye of West Africa” — as a modern, intelligent, multifunctional complex designed to strengthen the operational capacity of the ECOWAS Commission and advance regional integration.
He dismissed suggestions that China’s engagement in Africa carries hidden political conditions.
“We always respect the sovereignty and autonomy of African countries. We follow the principle of non-interference and no political conditions attached, and also a rejection of the promise-only approach,” he said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s central role, Dunhai referenced growing bilateral ties following Bola Tinubu’s 2024 state visit to China and cited ongoing cooperation on infrastructure, digital economy initiatives, and agriculture.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, said closer ties with China present major economic opportunities for West African countries, particularly through access to China’s vast market.
“For us, this is a major opportunity for our countries because China is a massive market and having access to such a massive market for our produce and products is a major opportunity that we must all seize,” he said.
Touray said improved market access could stimulate production, investment, and employment, especially in agriculture.
“It will raise the level of production because we all know, for example, if you go to some of our countries now, you will find mangoes just dropping and rotting off because there is no outlet for them. But if you have the capacity to harvest those mangoes and send them duty-free all the way to China, certainly this will enhance your productivity and, of course, it will create employment,” he said.
He noted that economic growth driven by such opportunities could also help address insecurity by productively engaging young people.
On the new headquarters, Touray urged proper maintenance while recalling the project’s groundbreaking in October 2023.
“As you may recall, back in October 2023, we convened here for the groundbreaking ceremony of this complex, for which the Government of China provided a total of 368 million RNB equivalent to USD56.57 million to build. Today, two years after that initiation, we are gathered for the handover ceremony of this remarkable building.
“Its role can only be indirect in the sense that it provides a good working space for the bureaucracy that is supposed to help implement decisions on regional integration. We have no reason, no right whatsoever, to neglect a structure of this nature,” he said.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described the facility as a strategic asset for the region.
“This new Headquarters, therefore, symbolises more than administrative convenience. It is a strategic asset that will enhance institutional effectiveness, deepen collaboration among Member States, and reinforce the capacity of the Commission to respond to emerging regional and global challenges,” she said.
She also commended China’s continued partnership with Africa and called for sustained unity among ECOWAS member states.
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