Abidjan -Lagos Corridor Highway Project: Steering Committee to inaugurates ALCoMA, commends commission, experts on studies report

Stanley Ihedigbo

Steering Committee of Abidjan -Lagos Corridor Highway Project has announced it’s plan to inaugurates Abidjan -Lagos Corridor Management Authority (ALCoMA) soon, as they approved proposed schedule annexed to the experts meeting report for the establishment.

The Steering Committee comprises the Honourable Ministers in charge of Road Infrastructure, established by the Heads of State and Government of the Corridor Countries through the Corridor Treaty signed on March 3, 2014, to oversee the implementation of the project.

In a communique on the 21st Steering Committee meeting of the Abidjan -Lagos Corridor Highway development programme, signed by its chairman, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, Nigeria Minister of Works, stated that based on the amendment, Member States will then revalidate their nominees for the ALCoMA Board and re-submit to the ECOWAS Commission.

The 21st Steering Committee meeting reviewed the progress of project implementation, in particular, expediting the completion of technical studies, financing of the construction and operationalization of the ALCoMA.

The meeting also considered the level of implementation of the conclusions of the 20th meeting of the Steering Committee held on December 15, 2023, in Cotonou, Benin.

The 21st Meeting of the Steering Committee was attended by the Ministers in charge of Road Infrastructure (or their representatives) of the Corridor Member States are, Republic of Benin, Republic of, Côte d’Ivoire, Republic of Ghana, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Togolese Republic.

Representatives of the following institutions also took part in the meeting and they are, ECOWAS Commission, ECOWAS Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU),  ECOWAS Bank for Investment & Development (EBID), African Development Bank (AfDB), Abidjan Lagos Corridor Organization (ALCO), Africa Finance Corporation and Lagos State Administration.

The Project Directors and Engineers of the Corridor Member States also participated in the meeting.

In his remarks, Commissioner of Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Sédiko Douka, reiterated the project’s pivotal role eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers, promoting free movement of people, goods and services across the region.

He also updated the meeting of the ECOWAS Commission’s efforts to advance the project.

The Commissioner extended his gratitude to the Government of Côte d’Ivoire for providing office and other facilities to host ALCoMA, the authority established by Heads of State and Government to manage and develop the corridor project.

He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to accelerating the operationalization of ALCOMA in Abidjan.

The Development Partners, African Development Bank (AfDB) representative, Mrs. Lydie Ehouman, commended the ECOWAS Commission for its leadership in driving the project.

She emphasized the support of the Bank to the project especially during the critical periods of the project such as the COVID-19 and the mobilization of complimentary resource to complete the necessary resources for the project components.

The representative affirmed that the project holds high-level priority within the Bank’s management and urged ECOWAS and the countries to fast-track the completion of the studies to enable the financing and procurement to commence.

In the opening address  by  Minister of Works, Nigeria and Chairman of the Steering Committee, Sen. Engr David Umahi, he commended the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of ECOWAS, His Excellency Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support.

He highlighted Nigeria’s commendable achievements in advancing the project and reaffirmed the President’s commitment to the Abidjan-Lagos project.

He also referenced similar legacy projects underway by the Nigerian government, such as the Lagos-Calabar coastal road and the Badagry-Sokoto highways, which feature modern facilities and are intended to operate as toll roads.

He reiterated the Steering Committee’s determination to overcome the challenges associated with the project, including the establishment and operationalization of the ALCoMA.

Talking in turns, the Honourable Ministers, which are, Minister of Roads and Highways, Ghana, Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye; Minister of Equipment and Road Maintenance, Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. Amédé Koffi  Kouakou; Minister of Public Works, Togo, Mr. Sani Yaya; and Minister of Living Environment and Transport in charge of Sustainable Development, Benin, Hon. José Didier  Tonato, Represented by Mr. Omonladé Hodonou Sourou Jacques Ayadji.

They conveyed the strong and unwavering commitment of their respective governments to the successful implementation of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Project.

The ministers  underscored the strategic significance of the project as a flagship regional initiative that promises significant economic and social transformation.

They commended the progress made so far in the technical studies, the commencement of the ALCOMA and reaffirmed their firm commitment to ensure its set up and operationalization.

The Ministers noted progress by Member States in protecting their respective Right of Way reservations.

They stressed the need to resolve any remaining barriers, expedite pending activities, secure the necessary financing, and commence construction.

The Ministers commended the development and financing partners in attendance, particularly the two main Development Partners (the African Development Bank and the European Union) for their continued support and commitment to the effective implementation of the project.

They called upon other partners present to support the completion of outstanding activities, ensuring the successful realization of the project.

The Ministerial meeting focused on the following agenda items, which are, consideration and adoption of the 21st Experts Committee Meeting Report held from September 16 to 20, 2024, consideration of the report of the 21st meeting of the Committee of Experts.

The chairman of the Committee of Experts, Engr. Ebere Izunobi, presented the report of the Experts’ meeting to the Steering Committee and following deliberations on the report, the Steering Committee adopted the recommendations of the report and concluded as follows, the status of the project components, feasibility and detailed design studies.

The Steering Committee noted that the detailed design study report as a working document considering the revisions required on elements such as the cost per kilometre, pavement choices and financing options.

The final approval will be granted on the reception of the revised reports which considers all comments made by Member States and ECOWAS.

In this regard, they urged ECOWAS to ensure that the consultants submit all revised engineering design reports by December 2024 as agreed at the technical validation workshop.

The Steering Committee took note of the urgency required to finalize the tunnel study by the end June, 2025.

They commended the ECOWAS Commission for financing the feasibility and preliminary design study of the tunnel from its internal funds.

Member States will review the cost estimate proposed by the design consultants bearing in mind the national construction rates on similar projects in the countries with a view to finding an optimal total project cost.

On the possibility of using PPP financing for sections of the highway, the Ministers noted that the Phase 4 Reports on “Financing and implementation strategy” will clearly outline the financing options (Public, Private, PPP, etc.) for each section of the Corridor highway.

ECOWAS will organize a virtual meeting of the Steering Committee, as well as technical and financing partners, to consider the financial and implementation options as well as available financing facilities from development financing institutions and private financiers for the construction.

The meeting outcome will enable the Ministers to advise the Heads of State and Government to make an informed decision on the best financing approach for their respective project sections.

The Steering Committee took note of the progress made in the provision of hosting facilities, strategy for the commencement of ALCoMA, and the preparation of a draft Headquarters Agreement.

Member States will provide their comments on the draft Headquarters Agreement to the ECOWAS Commission by October 4, 2024.

The Commission will send the revised Document to the Government of Cote d’Ivoire by October 11, 2024, for the finalization of the Agreement.

The Steering Committee agreed to amend the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to remove any ambiguity in the criteria regarding the Public Sector nominee.

Member States shall submit proposed amendments or changes to the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to the ECOWAS Commission.

A revised Intergovernmental Agreement will be considered and validated by the Steering Committee.

The meeting noted that  the AfDB and other partners have affirmed commitment to provide concessionary and non-concessionary financing to contribute to the construction of the highway, ECOWAS and the Corridor Countries will organize preliminary financing meetings with with them on raising the necessary financing for the construction of the corridor highway following the completion of the Design Studies.