The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Council is considering Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as a venue for an extraordinary meeting in February 2025 to strengthen links with the community.
The move marks a significant change from the typical capital city meeting and reflects the council’s desire to connect with citizens in major cities across the country.
Secretary-General Bertin Some told news reporters that as part of the delegation assessing Port Harcourt facilities, they assessed accommodation, meeting venues, transport and communication infrastructure.
Expressing satisfaction with the findings, some noted that this was the first time an ECOWAS parliamentary session was held in Port Harcourt, demonstrating the parliament’s commitment to inclusiveness.
The delegation, comprising Ousmane Sade, Head of Infrastructure, and Minapu Moore, Secretary of the Committee for Administration, Finance and Public Accounts, assessed the readiness of the proposed venue, the Obi Wali International Conference Centre.
The development has special significance for Rivers State, which has been facing political instability for over a year. The state aims to showcase its capabilities and growth potential by hosting the ECOWAS Congress.
The team was led by Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, First Investigator, Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer Review Mechanism and Member of the House of Representatives for Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in Rivers State.
For more than two decades, the ECOWAS Parliament has been a key platform promoting regional integration and economic growth in West African countries.
Speaking to reporters after the inspection, Hon. Abiante emphasized the importance of holding the event in Port Harcourt, saying it would provide local citizens with a better understanding of the role and activities of ECOWAS.
Abiante also pointed to the economic benefits, suggesting that welcoming delegations from across West Africa could provide new business opportunities for local communities.
He said: “As the National Assembly enters Rivers State, it will enable all members of the member states to better understand that there is a lot of diversity in this country in terms of culture, cuisine and dress.
“We are trying to showcase some of these, but interacting directly with people is not enough. I believe it will bring much more in the future and can also open up economic space as citizens of other countries enter the port. Harcourt, they may find some areas of interest worth investing in and promoting, keeping in mind that this is not just for themselves, but from a specific country.
“There may be something in Senegal that is found in abundance here in Port Harcourt. And in terms of our interactions here in Rivers State, we will understand that what we are looking for here is something that is abundant in Côte d’Ivoire and can provide economic prospects for the state.”