The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has projected that Nigeria could become the world’s fifth-largest economy within the next 50 years if current economic reforms and regional trade growth continue.
The forecast was made during the ECOWAS 2026 parliamentary session held in Abuja, where officials discussed the future of West Africa’s economic development.
Dr. Kalilou Sylla, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, said West Africa is entering a major period of economic transformation driven by stronger regional cooperation and trade.
He explained that Nigeria’s future growth will depend more on trade within West Africa than on relationships with Western countries.
According to him:
“It is not the American or English markets that will let the Nigerian market grow, but the sub-regional markets.”
Sylla also predicted that Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire could rise to become among the world’s top 15 economies within the next 25 years, with Côte d’Ivoire potentially surpassing France in the long term.
He added that regional institutions are not fully keeping up with the level of economic cooperation already happening among businesses and citizens across West Africa.
Despite challenges such as political instability, border issues, and currency pressures, ECOWAS officials noted that intra-regional trade has increased significantly.
According to Sylla, trade within the bloc has doubled to 40% in the last four years, showing strong momentum toward deeper economic integration across the region.
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