Abidjan–Lagos Highway: AfDB, ECOWAS Mobilise Financing for West Africa’s Biggest Trade Corridor

The Abidjan–Lagos corridor connects some of West Africa’s largest cities and busiest ports, forming a coastal belt that accounts for over 75% of the region’s trade activity and population density.

A landmark transnational infrastructure project poised to reshape West Africa's economic landscape has taken a major step forward, as the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) conclude a high-level, multi-country mission to secure financing for the Abidjan–Lagos Highway.

Spanning 1,028 kilometres and linking Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria, the proposed corridor is widely regarded as one of Africa's most ambitious and transformative transport projects—expected to unlock trade, industrial growth, and regional integration on an unprecedented scale.

High-Level Mission to Unlock Investment

The joint mission, conducted from 9 to 24 April, brought together senior officials, development finance institutions, and private sector stakeholders in a coordinated push to mobilise funding for the highway's construction, operation, and long-term maintenance.

Led by Mike Salawou, Director of AfDB's Infrastructure and Urban Development Department, the delegation included:

• Chris Appiah, ECOWAS Director of Transport

• Representatives from the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development

• The West African Development Bank (BOAD)

• Private sector partners, including Ecobank

The mission engaged ministers and senior officials across all five participating countries, including infrastructure and finance leaders, underscoring the project's regional significance and political backing.

Strategic Corridor Linking West Africa's Economic Powerhouses

The Abidjan–Lagos corridor connects some of West Africa's largest cities and busiest ports, forming a coastal belt that accounts for over 75% of the region's trade activity and population density.

Once completed, the highway is expected to:

• Dramatically reduce travel time and transport costs

• Improve the flow of goods and services across borders

• Strengthen supply chains and logistics networks

• Support industrial zones and urban development along the corridor

The project is also seen as a critical enabler of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), helping to remove physical bottlenecks that hinder intra-African trade.

Six-Lane Motorway with Unified Regional Governance

The project has now entered its investment phase, following the completion of feasibility studies supported by $25 million in AfDB technical assistance.

Plans include the construction of a modern six-lane motorway, designed to meet international standards and accommodate growing traffic demand over the coming decades.

In a significant governance innovation, the highway will be developed as a single unified asset under the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor Treaty, signed by all five countries.

A dedicated supranational body—the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor Management Authority—has been established to oversee the project's design, construction, and operation, marking a major step toward seamless cross-border infrastructure management in Africa.

Financing Challenges and Urgency

Despite strong political and institutional backing, securing full financing remains a critical hurdle.

ECOWAS Transport Director Chris Appiah stressed the urgency of mobilising funds, particularly for:

• Viability gap financing to make the project commercially attractive

• Land acquisition and resettlement costs

• Early-stage construction commitments

"Delays in financing could undermine the project's transformative potential," Appiah warned, highlighting the need for coordinated support from public and private investors.

Climate and Sustainability at the Core

The project also aligns with AfDB's strategic priorities, particularly its focus on climate-resilient infrastructure and improved access to capital.

Technical discussions during the mission included measures to:

• Mitigate environmental and social impacts

• Enhance climate resilience against extreme weather

• Ensure sustainable urban and industrial development along the corridor

Catalyst for Regional Transformation

Experts say the Abidjan–Lagos Highway could become a backbone of West Africa's economic integration, supporting trade flows worth billions of dollars annually while creating jobs and boosting productivity across multiple sectors.

By connecting five economies and facilitating cross-border movement, the corridor is expected to accelerate the emergence of a borderless regional market, a long-standing goal of ECOWAS.

Next Steps

With feasibility studies completed and political alignment secured, the focus now shifts to finalising financing structures and moving toward construction.

If successfully delivered, the Abidjan–Lagos Highway will not only transform transport infrastructure but also redefine how large-scale, multi-country projects are planned and executed across Africa.