By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to the delivery of the 1,028-kilometre Lagos–Abidjan Corridor, a landmark regional highway project expected to boost trade, connectivity, and economic integration across West Africa.

The assurance was given by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, during a high-level meeting with delegations from the ECOWAS Commission and the African Development Bank in Abuja.

The corridor project, which will link Lagos to Abidjan through Ghana, Togo, and Benin Republic, is widely seen as a transformative infrastructure initiative for the region.

Speaking at the meeting, Umahi conveyed the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emphasizing that infrastructure development remains a top priority of the administration.

He explained that the project would be developed to match the scale of Nigeria’s ambitious Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, featuring reinforced concrete pavement, dual carriageways with three lanes each, and modern engineering standards
designed for durability.

The minister highlighted ongoing investments in road infrastructure across the country, noting that key sections of interconnected highways are already under construction.

These include the Badagry axis, which will link directly to the Lagos–Abidjan corridor, as well as other strategic routes such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway.

According to him, the broader network of legacy road projects cutting across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones is designed to complement the regional corridor and drive trade along the West African coast.

Despite the optimism, Umahi raised concerns over unresolved technical and structural issues affecting the Lagos–Abidjan project.

He pointed to disparities in the distribution of corridor length among participating countries and shortcomings in the current design framework.
Nigeria’s portion of the corridor, estimated at about 79.5 kilometres, will be constructed to higher specifications than the standard ECOWAS design, he said, adding that some aspects of the existing plan were rejected due to lack of consultation and impractical elements.

“We are developing our own design that reflects local realities, existing infrastructure, and implementation challenges,” Umahi stated, noting that the revised framework is expected to be completed within weeks.

He stressed that final decisions on funding models and project execution must be taken at the level of heads of state before advancing to procurement and financing stages.

Officials from ECOWAS, led by Director of Transport Chris Appiah, said the visit formed part of ongoing consultations with member states to harmonize technical designs and address outstanding issues.

Similarly, the African Development Bank delegation, headed by Salawou Mike Moukaila, described the corridor as a priority project for the bank, aimed at strengthening regional integration and trade.
Moukaila disclosed that the bank is currently undertaking a multi-country mission to develop a financing framework and mobilize support from co-investors across Africa and beyond.
He emphasized Nigeria’s strategic importance to the project, noting that a significant share of trade along the corridor originates from the country.

The Lagos–Abidjan Corridor, once completed, is expected to significantly reduce travel time, enhance cross-border commerce, and position West Africa as a more competitive economic bloc.

In a statement by Francis Nwaze, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Works (Media), the Federal Government reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with regional partners to deliver the project, describing it as a critical driver of economic growth and regional connectivity.