President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Tuesday, May 28, for Lagos to participate in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The golden jubilee event, which was flagged off in Accra last month, will continue in Lagos with a series of activities. The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, is expected to deliver the welcome address.
As part of the anniversary programme, President Tinubu—who also serves as Chairman of ECOWAS—will on Saturday, May 31, commission several key infrastructure projects. These include 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 Coastal Highway, and the 7th Axial Road.
A highlight of the celebration will be the reenactment of the original 1975 ECOWAS declaration at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Victoria Island. Notably, the only surviving Head of State who signed the original declaration, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), will participate in all the ceremonies and deliver a commemorative speech at Eko Hotels and Suites.
President Tinubu will also virtually commission and flag off additional infrastructure projects across the country, including the Kano-Kanwar-Danja-Hadejiya Section II Road, Yakasai-Zalli Road, the Kano Northern By-pass, Zaria-Hunkuyi-Dabai Section I, Dabai-Kafur-Malumfashi, and Malumfashi-Dayi-Yashe-Gidan Mutum Daya Section II.
Renowned diplomat and Chairman of the NIIA, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, will deliver a review of ECOWAS’s 50-year journey, followed by a panel discussion featuring key stakeholders.
The President is expected to observe Eid-el-Kabir prayers at the State House, Dodan Barracks, before returning to Abuja.
