Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has been appointed as the chairman of the ministerial committee responsible for overseeing the Abidjan-Lagos multinational highway project. The 1,028 km highway will extend from Eric Moore in Lagos, Nigeria, to the Trans-African highway corridors, connecting five ECOWAS member countries.

As a vital segment of the broader Dakar-Lagos corridor under the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), the Abidjan-Lagos corridor is part of the Trans-African Highway Network. It will link the capital cities of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria, serving as a crucial infrastructure for regional integration.

The project, covering eight border crossings and linking key economic hubs, begins in Bingerville, near Abidjan, and ends at Mile 2 (Eric Moore) in Lagos. Its study phase has been funded by the European Union and the African Development Bank. The construction phase, set to be concessioned and tolled, will involve both expatriates and local individuals.

During the committee’s meeting, Minister Umahi noted that the project, which originally commenced in 2013, had faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlighted the high expectations from ECOWAS countries and confirmed that construction is set to begin in 2025. The highway is anticipated to improve trade across African borders, enhancing connectivity between the five participating nations.