In a pivotal meeting held in Lagos on Saturday, heads of member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened to finalize the design for the $15 billion Lagos-Abidjan Corridor Highway Development Project.
This ambitious infrastructure initiative aims to bolster regional economic integration by connecting five West African nations—Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, and Nigeria—via a 1,068-kilometer highway, facilitating travel across eight border towns from Eric Moore in Lagos to Abidjan.
Chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, the meeting focused on moving the project towards its procurement phase, with construction slated to commence in 2025. Umahi highlighted the project's significance, stating, "The design, ESIA, conceptualization, and funding mechanisms have been in development for 11 years," and expressed optimism about finalizing the design during this session.
The Lagos-Abidjan Corridor is expected to carry over 500,000 passengers daily, dramatically boosting trade, tourism, and overall economic activity in the region. As part of the larger Dakar-Lagos Corridor, this highway is a flagship program for ECOWAS, poised to drive significant regional integration.
Ghana’s Minister of Roads and Highways, Francis Boakye, emphasized infrastructure's role in socio-economic development, drawing parallels between the proposed highway's impact and the transformative effect of America's highway system on its economy.
Dr. Amede Kouakou, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Equipment and Road Maintenance, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to accelerating the project, underscoring the substantial benefits for both Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire.
