PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to travel from Abuja to Lagos tomorrow to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
According to a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the anniversary events in Lagos will include a reenactment of the 1975 ECOWAS declaration at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island.
The celebration was earlier launched in April in Accra, Ghana.
At a gathering scheduled to take place at Eko Hotels and Suites, President Tinubu—who currently serves as ECOWAS Chairman—will spotlight the regional body’s achievements.
Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, former Minister of External Affairs and Chairman of the NIIA, will reflect on ECOWAS’s five-decade history, with further analysis to be provided by a panel.
General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), the only surviving signatory of the original ECOWAS treaty, will be present at all key ceremonies and is expected to deliver a speech at the Eko Hotels event.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, will give the welcome address.
While in Lagos, President Tinubu will also commission several key infrastructure projects on Saturday, May 31.
These include Section I of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Lekki Deep Sea Port Tax Credit Concrete Road, the kickoff of Section II of the Coastal Highway, and the 7th Axial Road.
Additionally, he will virtually inaugurate the Kano-Kanwar-Danja-Hadejiya Section II Road, Yakasai-Zalli Road, and launch the Kano Northern Bypass, Zaria-Hunkuyi-Dabai Section I, Dabai-Kafur-Malumfashi Road, and Malumfashi-Dayi-Yashe-Gidan Mutum Daya Section III.
Before returning to Abuja, President Tinubu will observe the Eid-el-Kabir prayers at the State House in Dodan Barracks.