(Ecofin Agency) - During the 63rd ECOWAS ordinary session in July, the Heads of State instructed relevant institutions to accelerate works on the Abidjan-Lagos corridor.

The first roundtable of Financial Institutions for the construction of the Abidjan-Lagos Highway opened yesterday in Abidjan. The event, co-organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), saw the participation of donors and other stakeholders in the project.

The goal is to share up-to-date project information with participants and generate interest from investors. The organizers said it will serve as a platform for raising awareness and conducting a flexible market test of the project. It will also be the occasion to collect investors’ feedback and requirements for consideration.

As a reminder, during the 63rd ECOWAS summit, the heads of state from Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo, all of whom are project stakeholders, directed the ECOWAS Commission to fast-track the project in partnership with the organization's Investment and Development Bank (BIDC) and the AfDB. Their objective was to finalize the detailed design study, financial strategy, implementation, and the preparation of construction tender documents. The results of the technical studies are expected by October 2023.

The Abidjan-Lagos corridor is a transnational highway of 1,028 kilometers, which is a significant part of the trans-African road network connecting the five economic capitals of West Africa: Abidjan, Accra, Lomé, Cotonou, and Lagos. Its construction is the first phase of Trans-African Highway Number 7, starting from the maritime link from Praia in Cape Verde, passing through Dakar to Abidjan by road. It aligns with the ECOWAS's Vision 2050.