President Bola Tinubu arrived in Lagos, yesterday, ahead of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), billed to take place today at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island.

The President of Liberia, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, was among the first dignitaries to arrive. He landed at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport around 3:45 p.m., where he was received by the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Boakai was honoured with a ceremonial welcome by the troops of the Nigerian Army’s 9th Brigade before departing for his accommodation. Shortly after, President Tinubu’s aircraft touched down at approximately 4:10 p.m. He was welcomed by Governor Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Femi Hamzat, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and other senior government officials.

Following military honours, the President was escorted to his private residence in Ikoyi and greeted along the route by cheering Lagosians. This week’s celebration marks a milestone for ECOWAS, which was formally inaugurated in Lagos in 1975. A symbolic reenactment of the original declaration will be held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), also on the Island.

As current Chairman of ECOWAS, President Tinubu will headline the commemoration at Eko Hotels, where he is expected to highlight the regional bloc’s achievements and challenges over the past five decades.

Former Minister of External Affairs and Chairman of the NIIA, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, will deliver a keynote reflection on ECOWAS’s 50-year trajectory, followed by panel discussions.

Retired General Yakubu Gowon, the only surviving head of state, who signed the original ECOWAS treaty, will also attend and deliver an address. President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, will open the proceedings with a welcome address.

Beyond the celebrations, President Tinubu will remain in Lagos for official engagements, including the commissioning of key infrastructure projects on Saturday, May 31.

These include Section I of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Lekki Deep Sea Port Tax Credit Road, and the flag-off of Section II of the coastal highway.

The President will also commission roads virtually in Kano, Danja, Hadejia, and other areas, and inaugurate additional highway projects in northern Nigeria.

According to a statement by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu will observe the Eid-el-Kabir prayers at the State House in Dodan Barracks before returning to Abuja.