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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Development Bank Group have launched the operational phase of the landmark Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Project with a two-day orientation session to induct the 10-member Board of Directors of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority (ALCoMA).
Held on 19 and 20 February 2026 in Abidjan, the session marks a critical milestone in the project’s rollout following the Board’s official swearing-in in December 2025 during the 22nd Ministerial Steering Committee meeting.
Project Vision and Strategic Framework
Participants were introduced to the Corridor Treaty, which sets out the project’s vision, supranational status, and strategic objectives endorsed by the Heads of State of the five member countries:
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Ghana
- Togo
- Benin
- Nigeria
The programme reviewed findings from technical studies of the planned highway, alongside presentations on:
- Trade and transport facilitation
- Spatial development initiatives
- Value chains and logistics systems
- Anchor economic hub projects
Institutional and Legal Framework
Board members examined the institutional and legal framework governing the corridor project, including:
- The treaty and intergovernmental agreements
- Draft international instruments establishing both the highway and its management authority
- Initial review of rules of procedure and charter
- Recruitment process for the Director General, administrators, and technical staff
Leadership Perspectives
Chris Appiah, Director of Transport at ECOWAS, led the ECOWAS delegation and underscored the importance of the integrated economic corridor model that combines infrastructure development with trade facilitation and socio-economic advancement.
He urged stakeholders “to spare no effort to make this project a reality in the near future,” noting that a seamless cross-border highway would accelerate the region’s development.
Mike Salawou, Director for the Infrastructure and Urban Development Department at the African Development Bank Group, commended ECOWAS and participating countries for operationalising the Authority and reaffirmed the Bank’s role as mandated lead arranger.
He stated that the Bank would work alongside the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) and other partners to mobilise financing for the project:
“Our fellow citizens are waiting for us to move along this corridor, to carry out their socioeconomic activities and facilitate trade in our sub-region.”
Site Visit: Abidjan’s Fourth Bridge
As part of the session, delegates visited the fourth-largest bridge project in Abidjan, which has significantly eased congestion, particularly for residents of Yopougon, the country’s most populous municipality with an estimated two million inhabitants.
The African Development Bank Group mobilised approximately €600 million for the bridge project, leveraging additional support from:
- Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) : €103 million
- Global Environment Facility: €6.4 million
The Mega Corridor: By the Numbers
Stretching 1,028 kilometres, the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway is envisioned as a transformative regional infrastructure linking five West African economies and serving as a key industrial and trade driver by 2030.
The African Development Bank Group has played a catalytic role in the project’s preparation, providing:
- Technical assistance
- $25 million in early-stage support
- Feasibility and structuring activities nearing completion
Strategic Significance
The Abidjan-Lagos corridor represents one of Africa’s most ambitious infrastructure initiatives, designed to:
- Create a seamless transport artery across West Africa’s coastal economic heartland
- Boost intra-regional trade and economic integration
- Connect major ports, cities, and industrial hubs
- Generate employment and economic opportunities for millions
