Abuja, 22^nd September 2018. Ministers for Infrastructure, Works and Housing form Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have adopted a design scheme for the development of a new Headquarters complex for the Commission that will be built in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria- Abuja by the Chinese government through a $31.5 million grant.

The meeting of the ad-hoc Ministerial Committee on the construction of Community institutions which held on 22^nd September 2018 in Abuja, Nigeria, saw their representatives adopt a design scheme in order to commence the development of the final design which will be produced with the input of the Commission and Member States.

The ECOWAS Commission’s commissioner for General Administration and Conferences Vafolay Tulay, who presented three design schemes to the Ministers, stated that criteria such as site optimization, functionality, safety and security and the requirements of the Commission were taken into account while adopting the design scheme.

The Ministers recommended that the final design of the new Headquarters Complex should not only integrate elements of West African culture but must also comply with international and Nigeria’s standards and specifications of construction.

Furthermore, the Ministers also recommended that the design for the new Headquarters complex should have the expansion of the Commission in view while being developed. ‘The design should take into consideration functionalities and coordination consistent with the needs of the Community’, they said.

The Commissioner for Infrastructure, Pathe Gueye, in his remarks added that the Commission would enlist a consultant/quality control firm to assist ECOWAS with the final design to ensure that the building meets all the required standards and is of the highest quality.

Mr.Gueye further stressed the need for there to be good coordination between ECOWAS, Nigeria and the Chinese government in order for the project to be executed smoothly.

The Chairman of the meeting of the ad-hoc Ministerial Committee Mr. Musa Nuhu, head of the ECOWAS National Unit, Nigeria, assured the Commission of the full support of the Nigerian government in the implementation of the project.

The Ministerial Committee also approved the design for the second and third phase of the development of the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) logistics depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone.

The meeting of the ad-hoc Ministerial Committee was preceded by a meeting of experts which held on 21^st September 2018 in Abuja.

Also in attendance, Madam Finda Koroma, the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission reiterated the commitment of the Commission towards the implementation of these two projects as she described them as being of great importance to the Community.