The $15.6 billion Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway project, aimed at improving trade and regional integration in West Africa, requires $6.8 billion in private-sector investment.
This was revealed during a report presentation by the consultancy behind the Spatial Development Initiative at an online workshop organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and project partners last Thursday.
The report identifies 206 specific interventions for private-sector funding in key sectors such as energy, renewable energy, manufacturing, transport, agriculture, ICT, tourism, mining, and special economic zones.
These investments are intended to transform the corridor into a major hub for economic growth and industrialisation.
Stretching 1,028 kilometers, the highway will connect Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria, passing through Ghana, Togo, and Benin. Scheduled to begin construction in 2026, the highway is expected to be completed by 2030, with the aim of improving regional transportation and linking major urban centers.
The AfDB has already conducted feasibility studies, explored financing options, and established the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority to oversee the project’s execution. The road will be toll-free and feature four to six lanes, expanding to eight lanes in Lagos. It will also include 63 interchanges along its route.
Spanning five countries, the highway will cover 144 kilometers in Côte d’Ivoire, 90 kilometers in Togo, 127 kilometers in Benin, 520 kilometers in Ghana, and 82 kilometers in Nigeria.
The project is projected to create up to 70,000 direct and indirect jobs and will primarily rely on public-private partnerships for funding and execution.
Director of AfDB’s Infrastructure and Urban Development Department, Mike Salawou emphasised that the highway is more than just a transport link. It is designed to stimulate industrialisation and foster economic hubs across the region.
Salawou highlighted its potential to drive inclusive growth by connecting urban centers, secondary cities, and rural areas in the five countries.
Also speaking, director of transport at the ECOWAS Commission, Chris Appoiah, described the highway as crucial to advancing the region’s integration goals, marking a significant step toward achieving economic unity in West Africa.
AfDB’s chief transport economist and project manager, Lydie Ehouman, noted that the highway will connect major urban hubs like Abidjan, Accra, Lomé, Cotonou, and Lagos, while also integrating landlocked nations such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger into the regional economy. She added that by 2050, the corridor will support an urban population of 173 million, boosting trade, connectivity, and industrial growth throughout West Africa.
