The ECOWAS Commission which is the Agency implementing the Abidjan-Lagos corridor highway development project is hosting the 19th Technical Experts and Ministerial Steering Committee Meeting from May 16 to 19 2023, in Accra, Ghana.
The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is expected to grace the Ministerial Steering Committee Meeting as a special guest on the May 19 at the Marriott Hotel in Accra.
The ministerial steering committee meeting is made up of ministers responsible for road and infrastructure in the five corridor member countries of Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo.
The Ministerial Steering Committee Meeting will be preceded by a 3-day Technical Experts Meeting consisting of Technical Focal Directors and Project implementation Officers within the five (5) Member Countries between May 16 and 19, 2023.
The Abidjan-Lagos corridor highway development project is a 1,028-kilometer road that connects the five countries starting from Bingerville in Abidjan to Eric Moore in Lagos.
According to the project treaty signed by the 5 heads of state and government, an Abidjan-Lagos corridor management authority (ALCoMA) will be established to construct, manage, and operate the 6-lane highway and related economic development activities.
In the interim, a steering committee made up of ministers in charge of road infrastructure from the five (5) corridor member countries (CMCS) was established by the presidents with Nigeria being the chairperson, to provide oversight and high-level guidance on the implementation of the program.
The steering committee is supported by a committee of technical experts (senior engineering officials) from the ministries in charge of road and infrastructure in the five CMCs.
Under the supervision of the Infrastructure Department of the ECOWAS Commission, led by the Commissioner for Infrastructure, a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) has been established to provide dedicated hands-on support for the day-to-day implementation of the technical studies and related activities.
The Ministerial Steering Committee is chaired by the Minister of Works and Housing of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Babatunde Raji Fashola and he will preside over this 19th Ministerial Steering Committee meeting.
The ECOWAS commission envisions an integrated west African economy as part of the broader African economic integration plan espoused by the agenda 2063 of the African union.
Thus, ECOWAS seeks to enhance infrastructure development, recognized as a principal supply chain infrastructure which is required to drive growth and economic integration.
The project is still in its study phase and the 19th technical experts and ministerial steering committee meeting will therefore seek to garner the requisite momentum to accelerate the completion of the study phase and transit to the actual construction of the much-anticipated corridor highway which is viewed by many to be a game-changer in the supply chain infrastructure capacity of west Africa.
This 19th Technical Experts and Ministerial Steering Committee Meeting presents an opportunity to access members of the implementation team of this sub-regional landmark project and you our media colleagues are encouraged to seize the opportunity in order to help disseminate the right information to the public at this crucial time.
The final communique will be made available to all media participants through the sector Ministry of Roads and Highway after the meetings.
About the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project
Heads of State of ECOWAS member countries formally approved the construction of a homogeneous highway corridor to link the five countries of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria at the 42nd Ordinary Summit held in February 2013.
The corridor highway links major cities in West Africa including Abidjan, Accra, Lomé, Cotonou, and Lagos.
It also connects dynamic seaport infrastructure which service the region’s landlocked countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger and therefore accounting for 75% of trade volumes within West Africa, making the corridor a great potential for accelerating West Africa’s economic growth.
The Abidjan – Lagos corridor highway project is a six lane (3-lane dual) carriage standardized 1, 028km long highway project which is part of the Dakar-Lagos Trans African Highway linking a number of densely populated and economically vibrant cities.
The corridor also links highly dynamic seaports.
According to the Project Treaty signed by the five (5) Heads of State and Government, an Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority (ALCoMA) will be established to construct, manage, and operate the 6-lane Highway and related economic development activities.
The Project is currently at the study stage and the Feasibility Study reports and Preliminary Designs have been completed. The project preparation and technical studies are being funded by the African Development Bank, European Union and the ECOWAS Commission.
A Steering Committee made up of Ministers in-charge of Road Infrastructure from the five (5) Corridor Member Countries (CMCs) was established by the Presidents in the Corridor Treaty and chaired by Nigeria, to provide oversight on the implementation of the Program.
The Steering Committee is supported by a Committee of Technical Experts (Senior Engineering Officials) from the Ministries in charge of Road Works in the five member countries.
Under the supervision of the Infrastructure Department of the ECOWAS Commission, led by the Commissioner for Infrastructure or his/her representative, a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) has been established to provide dedicated hands-on support for the day-to-day implementation of the technical studies and related activities.
Objectives of the Project:
i. Generate Economic and Social Activities
ii. Promote Cross Border Trade
iii. Integrate the economies within ECOWAS Community Project Components
The Project currently consists of the following components:
1) Feasibility and technical design study
2) Road safety audit
3) Trade and transport facilitation
4) Spatial development initiative
5) Structuring and advice in PPP transaction
6) Communication and visibility
7) Financial audit
8) Establishment of a Management Authority- the ‘Abidjan Lagos Corridor Management Authority’ (ALCoMA)
Project Lots:
The proposed alignment of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway consists of 3 Lots.
Lot 1 (295 km): Côte D’Ivoire (Abidjan-Bassam-Noé)-Ghana (Elubo-Apimanim Junction).
Lot 2 (466 km): Ghana (Apimanim-Cape Coast-Accra- Sogakope-Akanu).
Lot 3 (320 km): Togo (Noépé-Agoméglozou)-Benin (Athiémé-Cotonou-Sémé-Kraké)-Nigeria (Sémé-Badagry-Lagos).
Ghana has the longest section of the highway corridor as the entire Lot 2 (466km) is located in Ghana and 112km of Lot 1 is also found in Ghana, making Ghana’s section a total of 567km which is more than 50% of the entire 1,082km corridor highway and stretches from Aflao to Elubo.
An assessment of the economic viability of the project has also identified sessions within the Ghana corridor as the most economically viable route under the project.
By: Peter Quao Adattor
