$15.6 Billion Corridor Project Set to Transform Trade, Transport, and Regional Growth by 2030…
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have officially kickstarted the operational phase of the Lagos–Abidjan highway project with the induction of a 10-member board for the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority (ALCoMA).
The move marks a critical step toward realizing one of West Africa’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, aimed at creating a seamless trade and transport corridor connecting five nations: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.
The induction ceremony took place during a two-day orientation session on February 19–20, 2026, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, following the board’s swearing-in in December 2025. The session provided board members with a deep dive into the legal and institutional frameworks governing the corridor, including treaties, intergovernmental agreements, and draft international instruments establishing both the highway and its management authority.
AfDB highlighted that participants were introduced to the Corridor Treaty, which outlines the project’s vision, supranational status, and strategic objectives, all endorsed by the Heads of State of the five participating countries. Technical studies, trade and transport facilitation measures, spatial development strategies, value chain integration, and planned economic hubs along the corridor were also reviewed.
“The induction of ALCoMA is a landmark step in operationalizing a corridor that will accelerate development and integration across West Africa,” said Chris Appiah, ECOWAS Director of Transport. He emphasized that the highway is more than a road—it is a model for combining infrastructure development with trade facilitation and socio-economic growth.
The African Development Bank reaffirmed its commitment as the mandated lead arranger for the project. Mike Salawou, AfDB Director for Infrastructure and Urban Development, said the bank will work alongside the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) and other partners to mobilize the $15.6 billion needed to bring the highway to life. “Our citizens are waiting for this corridor to open, to enable trade and economic activity across the sub-region,” Salawou said.
Set to be a transformative regional infrastructure, the Abidjan–Lagos highway is expected to become a key industrial and trade artery by 2030, driving growth and connectivity across five West African economies. With ALCoMA now operational, the corridor is poised to move from planning to action, promising a future of easier trade, faster transportation, and stronger regional integration.
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