China has completed the construction of a new headquarters for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, Nigeria, marking another high-profile symbol of Beijing’s expanding influence across Africa.
The US$32 million complex, fully funded by the Chinese government, is scheduled to be formally handed over to ECOWAS in February 2026 under a bilateral agreement signed in December 2022. The facility will serve as a centralised secretariat for the regional bloc, bringing together the ECOWAS Commission, the Community Court of Justice and the ECOWAS Parliament under one roof.
Currently, ECOWAS operates from three separate locations in Abuja, a situation that has increased operational costs and reduced efficiency. Officials say the new headquarters, equipped with modern administrative and conference facilities, will significantly enhance productivity and coordination within the organisation.
The project forms part of China’s broader diplomatic strategy in Africa, which has seen Beijing finance and construct major government and institutional buildings across the continent. Since 2000, China has reportedly supported the construction or renovation of nearly 200 government complexes in Africa, either through outright donations or concessional arrangements.
Notable examples include the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, completed in 2012 at an estimated cost of $200 million, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe’s parliamentary complex, and Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration building.
In December 2025, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, visited the ECOWAS headquarters project site alongside the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray. Ambassador Yu described the facility as a “landmark project of bilateral cooperation” and a strong example of South-South cooperation between China and Africa.
While African leaders have widely welcomed the project, some analysts view such large-scale infrastructure gifts as a strategic tool for influence. China–Africa relations experts argue that unlike traditional aid focused on social services or capacity building, these prestige projects help Beijing deepen political goodwill and long-term diplomatic leverage with African governments.
ECOWAS officials, however, have emphasised the strategic value of the headquarters, noting that the building will strengthen the institution’s ability to promote regional integration, economic cooperation and political stability across West Africa.
The complex was constructed by the Shanghai Construction Group and is regarded as one of the most advanced institutional headquarters in the region. Its completion comes as ECOWAS continues to navigate regional security challenges, economic integration efforts and political transitions among its member states.
Established in 1975, ECOWAS was created to foster economic integration and collective self-sufficiency across West Africa. The new headquarters is expected to play a central role in supporting the bloc’s long-term vision for regional unity and development, while also underscoring China’s growing footprint in Africa’s institutional landscape.
