Members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have officially approved the design for the ambitious $15 billion Lagos-Abidjan Corridor Highway Development Project during a recent meeting held in Lagos State.
The organization plans to initiate the procurement process for the project at its upcoming meeting. Chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, the gathering focused on advancing the project, which aims to enhance regional economic integration.
Currently in the study phase, the project requires ongoing detailed research, planning, and design. Umahi noted that the Lagos-Abidjan Highway Development Project, first proposed in 2013, has garnered significant funding support from the African Development Bank. The recent meeting sought to finalize the design as the project approaches a critical stage for implementation.
Highlighting the collaborative efforts of ECOWAS member states, Umahi emphasized that various stages of development, including design, environmental impact assessments, and funding mechanisms, have been in progress for over 11 years.
Ghana’s Minister of Roads and Highways, Francis Boakye, reinforced the crucial role of infrastructure in driving socio-economic growth, illustrating the correlation between highways and economic prosperity through examples like the United States’ economic boom. He stressed the importance of the Lagos-Abidjan project in fostering economic integration across West Africa.
Set to commence in 2025, the 1,068-kilometer highway will connect five ECOWAS member countries—Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, and Nigeria—traversing eight border towns from Eric Moore to Abidjan. The project is primarily financed by the African Development Bank and is part of the larger Dakar-Lagos Corridor, representing a flagship development initiative for ECOWAS.
