ECOWAS Commission concludes’ meetings with CTE for Abidjan -Lagos Corridor Highway technical studies

Stanley Ihedigbo

ECOWAS Commission, the implementing agency for the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project has concluded the 21st Meeting of the Committee of Technical Experts from the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Member Countries from 16th to 20th September, 2024 in Lagos, Nigeria.

According to the committee which was  chaired by Nigeria, represented by Deputy Director, Highways Planning of the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Ebere Izunobi, the four -day corridor-wide technical validation workshop  considered the detailed design report and drawings of the 6-lane supranational highway.

The 21st Technical Experts Meeting for Project Directors and Engineers and stakeholders from the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Member Countries (CMCs) of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria, expressed satisfaction and optimism for the of the imminent completion of the key technical studies comprising the detailed design, trade and transport facilitation, spatial development initiative and road safety audit.

The Technical Experts meeting ensured that the effective implementation of decisions of the project Ministers and provide technical advice to address project implementation challenges and optimal design choices for the Highway Project.

The Technical Experts meeting also follows up on the implementation of components to sustain the momentum and expedite the commencement of the construction of the supranational corridor highway.

The Committee of Technical Experts Meeting preceded the 21st Ministerial Steering Committee Meeting held in Lagos, Nigeria on 21st September, 2024, where recommendations on key project issues were presented to the Honorable Ministers for decision making and expected subsequent actions.

Participants at the 21st Technical Experts Meeting included the Directorate of Transport of the ECOWAS Commission, Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU) , Representatives from CMCs, Development Partners and other Stakeholders including African Development Bank, ECOWAS Bank for Investments and Development, the AfCFTA Secretariat, Lekki Concession Company and the African Financial Corporation.

The Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Project is a 1,028km multinational highway initiated by the Heads of State and Government of the five (5) Corridor Countries to connect the countries and bring economic development to their citizens and the entire community. The ECOWAS Commission is the Executing Agency, through its Directorate of Transport, until the operationalization of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority which is the supranational body that has been mandated to construct, manage, and operate the corridor for and on behalf of Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo.

The technical and preparatory studies for the project are being financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), ECOWAS Commission and the European Union. The Corridor Countries also contributed to the preparatory studies.