President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Tuesday for Lagos to lead celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
According to a statement issued Monday, May 26, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the golden jubilee celebration kicked off last month in Accra, Ghana, but will continue with a series of events in Lagos.
“The Lagos events will include reenacting the 1975 declaration at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Victoria Island,” the statement said.
As Chairman of ECOWAS, President Tinubu will speak at an event at Eko Hotels and Suites, where he is expected to highlight the achievements and key milestones of the regional economic bloc.
“Also scheduled to speak is Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), the only surviving head of state who signed the original ECOWAS declaration. Gowon will participate in all ceremonies and deliver an address.
The event will also feature a review of ECOWAS’s five-decade journey by Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, former Minister of External Affairs and current Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
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A panel session will follow to analyse the bloc’s evolution. Dr Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, will deliver the welcome address.
While in Lagos, President Tinubu will also commission several key infrastructural projects on Saturday, May 31.
These include Section I of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Lekki Deep Sea Port Tax Credit Concrete Road, and the flag-off of Section II of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the 7th Axial Road.
The President will also commission several roads virtually, including the Kano-Kanwar-Danja-Hadejiya Section II Road and Yakasai-Zalli Road.
Other flagged-off projects include the Kano Northern By-pass, Zaria-Hunkuyi-Dabai Section I, Dabai-Kafur-Malumfashi, and Malumfashi-Dayi-Yashe-Gidan Mutum Daya Section III.
“President Tinubu will observe the Eid-el-Kabir prayers at the State House, Dodan Barracks, before returning to Abuja,” the statement added.