(Ecofin Agency) - The African Development Bank (AfDB) will disburse $107 million to finance the construction and rehabilitation of a 218km-long road axis that will connect Burkina Faso and Niger. This was revealed in a statement released by the Pan African institution. The Abidjan-based bank’s contribution actually represents about 47% of funds needed for the project, which is $225 million.  

Development of infrastructures under the project includes the construction of a new 50-km long road and the renovation of 168 km more of degraded roads. The works will be co-funded by the European Union and Japan at a rate of 38%. The State itself will provide 14% of the amount needed.

“This project will make Burkina Faso’s and Niger’s economies more competitive. These are two nations without access to sea have their imports transit, mostly, by the ports of Tema and Takoradi in Ghana, those of Abidjan, in Côte d’Ivoire, Lomé in Togo, and Cotonou in Benin,”said Janvier Litsé, managing director AfDB for the West African region.

Fiacre E. Kakpo