Abidjan-Lagos highway requires $6.8b investment, says AfDB

The Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway, a landmark initiative to enhance trade and foster regional integration in West Africa, will require approximately $6.8 billion in private-sector funding.

The investment need was disclosed in a report from the consultancy firm behind the Spatial Development Initiative during an online workshop organised by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and project partners.

The disclosure was contained in a statement published on the AfDB’s website, which provided the details of the bank’s workshop with the transnational coastal road project partners.

The report identified 206 specific interventions requiring private sector contributions. These interventions focus on transformative investments in critical sectors such as energy, renewable energy, manufacturing, transport and logistics, agriculture, ICT, tourism, mining and special economic zones, positioning the corridor as a hub for economic growth and industrialisation.

“In a report presented by the consultancy firm responsible for devising the Spatial Development Initiative, 206 specific interventions were identified that could initially require primarily private sector funding investments of around $6.8 billion. The spheres targeted for transformative investment include energy, renewable energy, manufacturing, transport and logistics, agriculture and agri-industry, ICT, tourism, mining, and special economic zones,” the statement read.

The 1,028-kilometre transnational coastal motorway will connect Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria while traversing Ghana, Togo, and Benin. The highway, designed to link key urban centres and enhance regional transportation, is scheduled to commence construction in 2026 and be completed by 2030.

The statement highlighted that AfDB has already facilitated feasibility studies, explored financing options and established the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority to ensure the project’s progress.

The statement provided detailed insights into the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway, highlighting its design as a toll-free road with four to six lanes, expanding to eight lanes in Lagos, and featuring 63 interchanges along its route.

Covering 144 kilometres in Côte d’Ivoire, 90 kilometres in Togo, 127 kilometres in Benin, 520 kilometres in Ghana, and 82 kilometres in Nigeria, the highway is projected to create up to 70,000 direct and indirect jobs. The construction will largely rely on public-private partnerships to drive its execution.
Director of the AfDB’s Infrastructure and Urban Development Department, Mike Salawou, emphasized that the highway goes beyond being a transportation link.

Salawou noted that it is envisioned as an economic corridor designed to stimulate industrialization and foster the development of economic hubs.
He stressed its importance in connecting urban centres, secondary cities, and rural areas, driving inclusive growth across the five nations.

Similarly, the Director of Transport at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Chris Appoiah, highlighted the strategic role of the highway in advancing ECOWAS’ regional integration goals, describing it as a pivotal step toward achieving the region’s economic union.

Chief Transport Economist and Project Manager at the AfDB, Lydie Ehouman, noted that the highway will connect key urban hubs such as Abidjan, Takoradi, Accra, Lomé, Cotonou, Porto-Novo, and Lagos while integrating inland nations like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger into the region’s economic framework.
She further pointed out that the corridor is expected to support an urban population projected to reach 173 million by 2050, enhancing trade, connectivity, and industrial growth across West Africa.