Nigeria's government reaffirms support for West Africa's key road link with regional bloc and development bank

The Federal Government has underscored its dedication to completing the 1,028km Lagos-Abidjan Corridor Project, a pivotal regional highway that seeks to enhance trade and connectivity across West Africa.

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Minister of Works, David Umahi, conveyed the backing of President Bola Tinubu for the project, emphasizing that infrastructure development remains a cornerstone of the administration’s agenda.

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Umahi noted that the Lagos-Abidjan corridor is being developed to match the scale and ambition of Nigeria’s ongoing Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, during a high-level meeting with ECOWAS and African Development Bank delegations in Abuja on Thursday.

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The project, which connects Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria, will boast reinforced concrete pavement and modern road design standards, underscoring its significance in regional connectivity.

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Umahi highlighted the government’s ongoing road investments, including the Sokoto-Badagry route, Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, and Abuja-Kano road, among others, showcasing the administration’s commitment to infrastructure development.

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However, Umahi expressed concerns about design and unequal distribution of corridor length among participating countries, stating that Nigeria will develop its own design framework to address these issues.

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The African Development Bank has described the project as a top priority, with plans to mobilise financing and kick-start an initial phase, demonstrating its commitment to the project’s success.

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According to Salawou Mike Moukaila, AfDB representative, Nigeria’s section is strategically important, and the bank is committed to seeing this project through to its completion.