The President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, on Monday, July 7, 2025, chaired a high-level strategy meeting with the Steering Committee of the ECOWAS Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU) at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.
The session, convened under the leadership of Hon. Commissioner Sediko Douka, focused on strengthening infrastructure financing mechanisms and advancing the implementation of strategic regional projects.
Central to the discussion was the proposed creation of a regional infrastructure fund, to be financed through revenue generated from extractive sector exports. The committee also addressed the harmonisation of infrastructure regulations across Member States and proposed updates to the ECOWAS Regional Infrastructure Master Plan.
While President Touray welcomed the initiatives, he emphasized the importance of inclusive consultations with all ECOWAS Member States to ensure financial equity, shared ownership, and institutional synergy. He urged that any new financing models must be accompanied by efforts to align national and regional priorities.
Touray further underscored the urgent need for resilient investments in energy and healthcare infrastructure—especially in light of changing donor landscapes and the need for more self-sustained regional financing mechanisms.
The meeting reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to its Vision 2050 strategy, which identifies infrastructure-led development as a key driver of regional economic integration and prosperity.
