Minister of Works, David Umahi, has stated that the Lagos-Abidjan highway project is capable of promoting rapid integration of the West Africa sub-region in the areas of commerce and social development among neighbouring nations, hence its speedy completion.

He made the observation yesterday, while receiving a briefing on the road, initiated by five Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja.

The minister told the team, led by the bloc’s Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Sediko Douka, that for ease of work and timely delivery, the project should be segmented, considering the peculiarities of the corridor.

He said: “I think for ease of work and speedy completion, the project should be sectioned, and put a process in place to make the project achievable because some sections might be viable, while others might not.”

A statement quoted Umahi as canvassing concrete pavement on the Nigerian corridor.

Earlier, the team leader, Douka, noted that Africa’s economic integration is being hampered by deficits in transportation infrastructure, thus the 2050 ECOWAS agenda to address the problem.

Also speaking, Director of Infrastructure Department, ECOWAS, Malik Ashoke, hinted that the bridge linking Nigeria and Cameroon had been commissioned.