The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is advancing the $15 billion Lagos-Abidjan Corridor Highway Development Project, with final design approval expected soon. Heads of state and top officials from member countries met in Lagos on Saturday to push the initiative forward, which aims to strengthen regional integration by connecting five West African nations through a 1,068-kilometer highway.
The project, which will link Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, and Nigeria, is expected to significantly boost trade and economic activities. The highway will begin in Lagos at Eric Moore and end in Abidjan, traversing eight key border towns along the way.
Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, who chaired the meeting, highlighted the progress made in the project’s design phase and expressed optimism about moving towards the procurement phase. “The design, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), and funding mechanisms have been in development for 11 years,” Umahi said. “Today, we expect to finalize and approve the design and set goals for procurement at our next meeting, with construction targeted to begin in 2025.”
The Lagos-Abidjan Highway is expected to carry over 500,000 passengers daily, boosting regional tourism, trade, and economic growth. It is part of ECOWAS’ broader Dakar-Lagos Corridor, a key infrastructure initiative aimed at deepening regional integration.
Regional Ministers Highlight Benefits
Ghana’s Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr. Francis Boakye, underscored the highway’s potential to drive socio-economic development, comparing its anticipated impact to the role the U.S. highway system played in propelling America’s economic growth. “Infrastructure is key to economic expansion, and this project will create opportunities for trade and tourism across West Africa,” Boakye said.
Similarly, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Equipment and Road Maintenance, Dr. Amede Kouakou, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to accelerating the project, emphasizing the substantial benefits it would bring to the region, particularly to Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire.
With ECOWAS’ backing and significant support from the African Development Bank, the Lagos-Abidjan highway project is poised to transform regional connectivity and serve as a critical infrastructure link for the West African sub-region.
Key Takeaways:
The $15 billion Lagos-Abidjan Corridor Highway project is nearing final design approval, with construction planned for 2025.
The highway will span 1,068 kilometers and connect five West African nations, boosting trade and tourism.
The initiative is part of ECOWAS’ broader plan for regional economic integration.
Top officials from ECOWAS countries, including Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, expressed their optimism about the transformative potential of the highway, marking it as a key step towards the economic advancement of West Africa.
