President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Lagos State ahead of the landmark 50th anniversary celebration of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), scheduled for Wednesday.
The arrival marks a significant moment in a week packed with diplomatic, ceremonial, and developmental engagements for the Nigerian leader.
The presidential aircraft carrying President Tinubu touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja at exactly 4:15 p.m.
Upon arrival, the President was warmly received by a high-level delegation led by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, alongside other top government officials and dignitaries. The welcome ceremony also featured a military guard of honour, in line with established protocol for receiving a sitting Head of State.
President Tinubu’s visit coincides with a major milestone for ECOWAS, a regional organization founded in 1975 with the mission to foster economic integration, political cooperation, and social development among its 15 member states.
As the current Chairman of ECOWAS, Tinubu is expected to play a central role in the celebrations. According to a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Tinubu will deliver a keynote address highlighting the major achievements of the bloc over the past five decades.
These include strides in regional trade, peacekeeping, infrastructural development, and cross-border cooperation among member states.
In addition to participating in the ECOWAS anniversary event, the President will also use the opportunity to commission several major infrastructure projects spearheaded by his administration. These projects reflect the government’s ongoing commitment to economic transformation and urban development, particularly in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos.
Among the key projects scheduled for inauguration are:
- Section I of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a vital infrastructure expected to significantly improve connectivity between the South-West and South-South regions of Nigeria;
- The Lekki Deep Sea Port Tax Credit Concrete Road, which enhances access to the strategically important Lekki Port, a cornerstone for Nigeria’s maritime trade ambitions;
- The flag-off of Section II of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, signaling the commencement of the next phase of the coastal corridor;
- The 7th Axial Road, part of the broader Lagos State transport and infrastructure master plan aimed at easing traffic congestion and boosting regional logistics.
President Tinubu will also observe the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir prayers at the State House mosque located within Dodan Barracks, Ikoyi, Lagos — the official residence of Nigerian Heads of State during the military era. The President is expected to return to Abuja following the completion of these engagements.
This visit underscores President Tinubu’s dual focus on both regional leadership and national development, as he continues to navigate domestic priorities alongside his responsibilities on the continental stage.