The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to embark on several investor roundtables and Roadshows to secure the over $12 billion capital investment needed to construct the over 1000km supranational Abidjan-Lagos highway.

Acting Director, Directorate of Transport, Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, ECOWAS Commission, Chris Appiah, in a statement, said that the just concluded four-day technical workshop of road engineers from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo, finalised the Detailed Technical Design Study of the Abidjan-Lagos corridor Project, with the full review of the technical designs and drawings.

The objective of the working session was to present the final versions of the technical design studies for the six-lane dual carriage Abidjan-Lagos corridor highway for review by project directors and engineers from the countries concerned.

During the four days, presentations were made to the national experts of the Abidjan-Lagos corridor member countries covering all technical aspects, including; Detailed Technical Design Study & Matrix of Responses to ECOWAS & Member State Comments (Topographic, Geotechnical, hydrological, geometric, Road Safety Audit Safety Audit, etc); Environmental and Social Impact Studies, (Climate Change, Environmental and Impact Assessment, Environmental and Social Management Program, Right of Way Delineation, Relocation of existing utility networks and connection to facilities, resettlement action plan, etc) and Smart Corridor and Operations (Toll system, architecture and operation of toll stations, service and rest areas, operating buildings, energy supply, public lighting, multi-modality, maintenance mechanism).

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The experts also considered the climate hazards identification and scoping preliminary report from consultants from the Global Center for Adaptation who is supporting ECOWAS and the corridor countries with a climate change study on the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor.

This is being done in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and will enhance the chances of attracting Green financing to support the construction of the Highway.

This stage is the third phase of feasibility studies, environmental and social assessment, preliminary design, detailed design and draft tender documents for the construction of the Abidjan-Lagos corridor.

The development of this corridor is in line with ECOWAS’ 2050 Vision and the respective strategies of the five Member States concerned with the aim of promoting an efficient, safe, and competitive infrastructure for trade and sustainable development.

ECOWAS Commission is the Implementing Agency, coordinating the design, procurement, construction, and operation of the six-lane supranational highway that will connect Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) and Lagos (Nigeria) through Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

The Highway will be under a single management on behalf of the by the soon to be operational Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority (ALCOMA).