Nigeria reaffirms commitment to Lagos-Abidjan corridor, raises concerns over design and funding
via Punch Nigeria5 min read
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated its support for the 1,028-kilometer Lagos–Abidjan Corridor project but has expressed new concerns regarding its design standards, funding structure, and the unequal distribution of the highway's length among participating West African countries. Minister of Works, David Umahi, conveyed this during a meeting with delegations from the ECOWAS Commission and the African Development Bank in Abuja. Umahi emphasized that while Nigeria is fully committed, critical issues require resolution at the Heads of State level before the project can advance. He noted that President Bola Tinubu fully backs infrastructure development. Umahi highlighted unresolved technical and political issues, including the unequal distribution of corridor length, which he believes can only be resolved by Heads of State. Nigeria's portion of the corridor is approximately 79.5 kilometers, which Umahi stated would be constructed to a significantly higher standard than the original ECOWAS proposal, using reinforced concrete and three lanes on each carriageway instead of the two-lane ECOWAS design. He also mentioned rejecting aspects of the ECOWAS design due to a lack of consultation and impractical elements, and that Nigeria is developing its own design blueprint. Umahi stressed that agreeing on a funding model is a major hurdle, warning against premature procurement without political consensus. Despite these concerns, Nigeria remains committed, viewing the project
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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