The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering the 1,028-kilometre Lagos–Abidjan corridor, while raising concerns over aspects of the project’s design proposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Gatekeepers News reports that Minister of Works David Umahi gave the assurance on Thursday during a meeting with delegations from ECOWAS and the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Abuja, describing the regional highway as a major boost for trade and connectivity across West Africa.
Umahi said the project has the full backing of President Bola Tinubu and aligns with the administration’s infrastructure development agenda.
The Lagos–Abidjan corridor is expected to connect Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria across about 1,028 kilometres.
According to the minister, Nigeria plans to deliver its section using reinforced concrete pavement and expand it to three lanes on each carriageway, diverging from the two-lane model proposed by ECOWAS.
He said the corridor complements other flagship projects, including the Sokoto–Badagry superhighway and the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway.
“At the end of the corridor, which will connect at Badagry, we have the Badagry section, 162 kilometres, already awarded and ongoing,” Umahi said.
He added that section one of the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway, covering 47.47 kilometres in Lagos, has been completed and is scheduled for commissioning in May, while section two is expected to reach the Ogun boundary by December.
Umahi also highlighted ongoing road projects linking Lagos to Abuja through multiple states, alongside infrastructure projects spread across the six geopolitical zones, noting that the government is prioritising durability through reinforced concrete technology.
However, the minister said unresolved issues remain on the Lagos–Abidjan corridor, particularly around engineering design and the allocation of road length among participating countries.
“On the engineering side, there are unresolved issues. The distribution of corridor length across countries is unequal and can only be resolved at the level of heads of state,” he said.
Umahi disclosed that Nigeria has rejected aspects of the ECOWAS design, describing them as impractical, and is developing an alternative framework suited to local realities.
He added that decisions on funding models would also need to be resolved by heads of state before the project can move to procurement.
Despite the concerns, Umahi reiterated Nigeria’s support for the project, saying it would strengthen regional integration and stimulate economic growth.
Earlier, ECOWAS Director of Transport Chris Appiah said the visit formed part of consultations with member states on progress made on the project. He said discussions had already been held with Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo, while engagement with Benin is expected next.
Speaking on financing, Salawou Mike Moukaila, who led the AfDB delegation, said the bank has prioritised the project and is mobilising funds for its execution.
He said the bank is currently conducting an identification mission across 25 countries to develop a financing framework, adding that the corridor has attracted strong interest from co-financiers.
