President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja for Lagos on Monday, May 27, to lead Nigeria’s commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Lagos leg of the Golden Jubilee celebration—originally flagged off in Accra, Ghana—will feature a symbolic re-enactment of the 1975 ECOWAS Declaration at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island.
President Tinubu, who currently chairs the regional bloc, will also address guests at a special event scheduled for the Eko Hotels and Suites, where he is expected to highlight ECOWAS’s achievements over the past five decades.
Former Minister of External Affairs and Chairman of the NIIA, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, will deliver a review of the bloc’s journey, followed by a high-level panel discussion.
Retired General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s former Head of State and the only surviving signatory to the original 1975 ECOWAS Treaty, will participate in the ceremonies and deliver a commemorative speech.
Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, will deliver the welcome address.
In addition to the ECOWAS events, President Tinubu is scheduled to commission several key infrastructure projects on Saturday, May 31, as part of his administration’s development agenda. These include:
Section I of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway
The Lekki Deep Sea Port Tax Credit Concrete Road
The official flag-off of Section II of the Lagos-Calabar Highway
The 7th Axial Road
The President will also virtually inaugurate major roads in northern Nigeria, including:
Kano-Kwanar-Danja-Hadejia Section II Road
Yakasai-Zalli Road
Kano Northern Bypass
Zaria-Hunkuyi-Dabai Section I
Dabai-Kafur-Malumfashi Road
Malumfashi-Dayi-Yashe-Gidan Mutum Daya Section III
President Tinubu is expected to observe the Eid-el-Kabir prayers at the State House Mosque in Dodan Barracks before returning to Abuja.
