The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has projected that Nigeria could emerge as the world’s fifth-largest economy within the next 50 years if ongoing regional integration and economic reforms are sustained.

The forecast was presented during the bloc’s 2026 parliamentary session in Abuja, where officials highlighted long-term growth prospects across West Africa’s major economies.

West Africa’s Long-Term Economic Outlook

Dr Kalilou Sylla, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, said the region is entering what he described as a major economic realignment driven by increased trade and cooperation.

He noted that Nigeria, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are positioned to benefit significantly if regional integration continues to deepen over the coming decades.

According to him, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire could also rank among the world’s top 15 economies within 25 years, with Côte d’Ivoire potentially overtaking France in the long term.

Nigeria’s Growth Tied to Regional Trade

Sylla said Nigeria’s future economic expansion will depend more on strengthening West African markets than reliance on traditional Western trading partners.

“It is not the American or English markets that will let the Nigerian market grow, but the sub-regional markets,” he told lawmakers during the session.

He added that stronger intra-regional trade would play a key role in driving industrial growth and long-term economic stability across the bloc.

Intra-Regional Trade on the Rise

ECOWAS officials also pointed to increasing trade within West Africa as evidence of gradual economic integration despite ongoing challenges in the region.

According to Sylla, intra-regional trade has doubled to about 40 percent in the last four years, even with political instability, border tensions, and currency pressures affecting member states.

He noted that institutions within the bloc must now match the pace of private-sector and cross-border business activity already shaping the region’s economic landscape.

Outlook for West Africa’s Economic Future

The projections underscore growing optimism about West Africa’s long-term economic trajectory, with Nigeria identified as a central driver of regional growth.

However, officials emphasized that sustained reforms, stronger institutions, and deeper regional cooperation will be critical to achieving the forecasted economic outcomes over the next few decades.