$15 Billion Lagos-Abidjan Corridor Highway Development Project has been Ratified by the Heads of Member States of the ECOWAS in Lagos

By Abdul Rahman Bangura-

ECOWAS Building
Photo Credit: Africainvestor

NEW AFRICA BUSINESS NEWS (NABN) Freetown, Sierra Leone- The enviable infrastructure concept will correlate five West African nations— Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, and Nigeria—via a 1,068-kilometer highway that will connect eight border towns, starting in Lagos and ending in Abidjan.

Chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Works – Dave Umahi, the meeting was centered on projecting it towards its procurement phase, with construction anticipated to commence in 2025.

The Minister remarked that, the project has been in development for 11 years, receiving vital assistance from the African Development Bank. “Today, we aim to finalize the design and set procurement goals for our next meeting,” Umahi said.

“The design of the project, ESIA design, conceptualization, and funding mechanisms have been on in the past 11 years,” he said.

“As of today, we are going to listen to the committee of experts in terms of the design and so we believe that we will finalize and approve the design today, and then we set the goal for procurement, probably in our next meeting.”

It was reported that, the Lagos-Abidjan Highway project is expected to carry over 500,000 passengers daily and significantly boost trade, tourism, and economic activities within the region.

The Lagos-Abidjan highway would be instrumental in expediting trade, tourism, and overall economic advancement across the West African sub-region, drawing parallels with the U.S. economic boom, which was largely brandished by its extensive highway system.

The Minister of Equipment and Road Maintenance for Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. Amede Kouakou, underscored his country’s commitment to accelerating the project, emphasizing the significance profits it will provide to both Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as the broader region.

For New Africa Business News (NABN) Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports, Africa Correspondent