Nigeria could emerge as the world’s fifth‑richest country within five decades, while Côte d’Ivoire may rank among the top 15 global economies within 25 years, an ECOWAS commissioner has projected.
Dr Kalilou Sylla, the bloc’s Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, made the forecast during the 2026 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja. He also suggested that Côte d’Ivoire could eventually surpass France in wealth within 70 years.
However, Sylla warned that regional institutions are lagging behind citizens and businesses driving economic integration. “The people are ahead, and we as community institutions are lagging,” he said.
He argued that Nigeria’s growth depends more on West African trade integration than Western markets. “It is not the American or English markets that will let the Nigerian market grow, but the sub‑regional markets,” Sylla told lawmakers.
The commissioner urged Nigeria to adopt a clear economic strategy for West Africa, stating that without it, “nothing will change.”
He noted that intra‑ECOWAS trade has doubled to 40% over four years, proving deeper integration is possible despite obstacles.
