BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Minister of Works Engr. David Umahi has assured the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that the 1028km Lagos–Abidjan Corridor will bolster trade and connectivity across West Africa.
He stated this during a high-level meeting with delegations from the ECOWAS Commission and the AfDB in Abuja on Thursday.
The team visited Umahi who is the Chairman of the Steering Committee for the project and Nigeria's representative at the ministerial level, to brief him on progress and resolve outstanding technical and financing issues.
Umahi conveyed the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that infrastructure development remains central to the administration’s agenda.
The project is connecting Cote D’Ivoire from Abidjan, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria from Lagos.
Umahi explained that the Lagos–Abidjan corridor, spanning about 1,028 kilometres, is being developed to match the scale and ambition of Nigeria’s ongoing Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway.
According to him, the project will feature reinforced concrete pavement, three lanes on each carriageway, and modern road design standards aimed at long-term durability.
Umahi highlighted the scale of ongoing road investments across Nigeria linked to the regional corridor vision, noting that major sections of the Sokoto–Badagry route are already under construction, with significant financial commitments.
"At the end of the corridor, which will connect with the Lagos–Abidjan route at Badagry, we have the Badagry section, 162 kilometers, already awarded and ongoing.
"We are also going to the Federal Executive Council for the Uyo section, 108 kilometers for award," he said.
He emphasised that the Lagos–Abidjan project is not isolated but part of a broader network of interconnected highways, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and several legacy routes cutting across all six geopolitical zones.
"This project will drive trade across West Africa and the African coast because the coastal highway alone covers 750 kilometres, with multiple sections already completed, ongoing, or nearing commissioning.
"Section one, 47.4 kilometers in Lagos, is completed and will be commissioned in May. Section two, fifty-five kilometers, will reach the Ogun boundary and is expected to be completed by December," he added.
Umahi disclosed that construction is also advancing steadily in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, with additional sections heading to the Federal Executive Council for approval.
Beyond the coastal route, the minister outlined a third legacy corridor linking Lagos to Abuja through Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa States, as well as a fourth corridor extending from Abuja through the North-Central and North-East regions.
Umahi also pointed to ongoing work on critical national highways such as the Abuja–Kano road, parts of which are expected to be completed within the year, alongside projects like Sokoto–Zamfara–Kaduna–Katsina, Enugu–Onitsha, and the East–West Road.
According to him, the Tinubu administration is deliberately prioritising durability by adopting reinforced concrete technology for many of the roads.
"President Bola Tinubu is delivering durable infrastructure designed to last over one hundred years.
"His approach to economic reform, including subsidy removal and currency adjustments is long-term national planning, even if not fully understood by the public," he said.
The minister raised concerns about design and unequal distribution of the Lagos–Abidjan corridor length among participating countries.
He disclosed that Nigeria’s section of the corridor is approximately 79.5 kilometres but will be executed to a higher standard than originally proposed.
"I am executing mine with reinforced concrete and three lanes, not the two-lane ECOWAS design. I have also rejected aspects of the ECOWAS design due to lack of consultation and impractical elements," he added.
Umahi stated that Nigeria is currently developing its own design framework, expected to be completed within two weeks, taking into account existing infrastructure and real-world conditions along the route.
He stressed that decisions on funding models must be taken at the highest political level before the project can proceed to procurement and full financing.
Despite these challenges, the minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the project, announcing plans to host ECOWAS and technical teams for further engagement.
The ECOWAS Director of Transport, Chris Appiah explained that the mission was part of ongoing consultations with member states.
He noted that similar consultations had been held with Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo, while engagement with Benin is scheduled to follow its recent elections.
On financing, the AfDB delegation led by Salawou Mike Moukaila described the project as a top priority for the bank.
"As you tasked the bank to mobilize financing for the corridor, we have taken this very seriously.
"Our senior management, including the president of the bank, has made this project a priority because it will enhance regional integration," he said.
Moukaila explained that the bank is currently undertaking an identification mission across 25 countries to design a financing framework and kick-start an initial phase of the project.
"There is strong interest from co-financiers within and outside Africa. They want to see the bank take the lead in financing and mobilising its instruments," he said.
Moukaila added that the initiative aligns with the strategic priorities of the bank’s leadership, particularly in promoting infrastructure, trade, and regional integration.
He emphasised Nigeria’s central role in the success of the project, adding that a significant portion of trade originates from Nigeria along the corridor.
Moukaila commended the Federal Government for championing infrastructure development in Nigeria, which is critical for regional connectivity across West, Central, and East Africa.
He described the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor as a game changer, and invited the minister to share Nigeria’s experience at the upcoming Africa Transport Forum in Abidjan.
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