The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the realization of the 1,028-kilometre Lagos–Abidjan Corridor, while raising concerns over aspects of the project’s design and implementation framework.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, made this known on Thursday during a high-level meeting in Abuja with delegations from the Economic Community of West African States and the African Development Bank.
The Lagos–Abidjan Corridor is a flagship regional infrastructure project designed to link five West African countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria through a modern highway network aimed at boosting trade and cross-border connectivity.
Umahi said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains fully committed to infrastructure development, describing the corridor as critical to Nigeria’s economic strategy and regional integration goals.
He, however, pointed to unresolved issues, particularly regarding the engineering design and distribution of the corridor length among participating countries.
“On the engineering side, there are unresolved issues,” the minister said, noting that Nigeria has rejected elements of the proposed ECOWAS design due to what he described as limited consultation and impractical provisions.
According to him, Nigeria’s section of the corridor estimated at about 79.5 kilometres will be constructed using reinforced concrete and expanded to three lanes on each carriageway, instead of the two-lane design initially proposed.
He added that the government is developing a revised design model tailored to local conditions, which will take into account existing infrastructure and physical constraints along the route.
“We are developing our own design framework that reflects the peculiarities of Nigerian roads and implementation realities,” Umahi stated.
Beyond technical concerns, the minister stressed that key decisions on funding and procurement must be resolved at the level of heads of state before the project can advance.
“Until the funding model is agreed, moving into procurement and full financing would be premature,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Umahi reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to proceed with the project, emphasizing its potential to transform regional trade and mobility.
Officials from ECOWAS said the visit was part of ongoing consultations with member states to harmonize technical inputs and finalize project designs.
The regional body noted that similar engagements had been held with other participating countries.
The African Development Bank, which is leading efforts to mobilize financing for the corridor, described the project as a priority initiative with strong interest from international co-financiers.
The bank said it is currently undertaking an identification mission across multiple countries to develop a financing framework and support the rollout of the project.
The Lagos–Abidjan Corridor is expected to serve as a major economic artery along the West African coast, linking key commercial hubs and facilitating the movement of goods and people across the sub-region.
Umahi reiterated that Nigeria would continue to engage with regional partners to resolve outstanding issues and ensure the successful delivery of the project.
