Ministers say Abidjan-Lagos highway will eliminate tariff barriers

Minister of Works, Nigeria and Chairman of the Abidjan-Lagos corridor highway Steering Committee, David Umahi, has reiterated the project’s pivotal role in eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers and promoting the free movement of people, goods and services across the region.

This was at the 21st Steering Committee Meeting of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project, held in Lagos and attended by the 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.

He stressed the Steering Committee’s commitment and determination to overcome the challenges associated with the project, including the establishment and operationalisation of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority (ALCoMA).

The ministers present were Minister of Roads and Highways, Ghana, Francis Asenso-Boakye; Minister of Equipment and Road Maintenance, Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. Amédé Koffi Kouakou; Minister of Public Works, Togo, Sani Yaya; Minister of Living Environment and Transport in charge of Sustainable Development, Benin, José Didier Tonato, represented by Omonladé Hodonou Ayadji.

The ministers lauded the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the European Union (EU) for their continued support and commitment to the effective implementation of the project.

They conveyed the strong and unwavering commitment of their respective governments to the successful implementation of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Project, while underscoring the strategic significance of the project as a flagship regional initiative that promises significant economic and social transformation.

They also highlighted the progress made so far in the technical studies and the commencement of the ALCOMA and reaffirmed their firm commitment to ensure its setup and operationalisation.

At the meeting, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was tasked to ensure that the consultants on the project submit all revised engineering design reports by December 2024 as agreed at the technical validation workshop.

ECOWAS will also organised 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 next Steering Committee meeting will be held in December 2024 in the Togolese Republic. The ECOWAS Commission will consult the Chairman and the sector minister from the host Country, to determine the exact dates.