The Secretary-General of the ECOWAS Parliament, Bertin Some, also addressed reporters, affirming the delegation’s satisfaction with the facilities inspected.
Port Harcourt, Nigeria – Rivers State is preparing to host an extraordinary session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, a historic event scheduled for February 2025.
This marks the first time the assembly of West African lawmakers will convene in Southern Nigeria. The session comes as the state continues to navigate a political crisis that has persisted for over a year.
Ahead of the session, an ECOWAS Parliament inspection team arrived in Port Harcourt on Monday to assess the readiness of the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, the proposed venue for the event. The delegation was led by Awaji-Inombek Abiante, the First Rapporteur of the Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security, and the African Peer Review Mechanism, who also represents the Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in Nigeria’s House of Representatives.
Speaking to journalists after the inspection, Abiante highlighted the significance of hosting the ECOWAS Parliament session. He emphasized the event’s potential to deepen the understanding of ECOWAS’s activities among local residents and the economic opportunities it could bring to the state.
“As parliament gets into Rivers State, into Port Harcourt, it will enable a better understanding,” Abiante stated. “There is a lot of diversity in this country, in terms of our culture, food, and even how we dress. Interacting with people directly brings much more on board. It could also open up the economic space because when citizens from other countries come into Port Harcourt, they could find a few areas of interest worthy of investment and promotion.”
The Secretary-General of the ECOWAS Parliament, Bertin Some, also addressed reporters, affirming the delegation’s satisfaction with the facilities inspected. He noted that their visit, initiated by the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, aimed to evaluate infrastructure, including accommodation, meeting spaces, transportation, and communication logistics.
“We have come to see the facility in terms of accommodation, the meeting venue, transport, communication, and so on,” Some said. “We are satisfied after visiting many places and are confident that the session can proceed smoothly. We want to thank Hon. Abiante for his support and availability throughout our visit.”
The inspection team included Ousmane Sade, Head of the Infrastructure Division, and Minapu Ngalo Moore, Clerk of Committees on Administration, Finance, and Public Accounts.
Join our Channel...