The Federal Government has clarified Nigeria’s involvement in the 1,028km Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway project, stating that the country’s section of the road spans 79km from Eric Moore in Lagos to the Seme Border.
Speaking on Thursday, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, explained that the ongoing Lagos-Badagry Expressway project forms part of the larger regional highway initiative. She noted that the project is being handled by different authorities across various sections.
According to her, the 46.2km stretch from Agbara to Seme has been awarded to a contractor by the Federal Government. The Okokomaiko to Agbara portion is under the supervision of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, while the Lagos State Government is handling the 10km section from Eric Moore to Igbo Elerin.
Kesha stated that the original vision for the corridor was a 10-lane homogeneous highway with provisions for a train and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems. However, she said the design is now being reassessed, with member countries possibly implementing their own versions.
Currently, the Nigerian section consists of three lanes without service lanes, but Kesha noted that provisions for light rail and BRT corridors may be added in the future to serve surrounding communities.
She also disclosed that the highway’s proposed right-of-way is approximately 120 metres and that the project is still in its design phase, expected to be completed in May before construction commences.
The Federal Ministry of Works, alongside the ECOWAS Commission, had earlier held a stakeholder engagement involving security forces and border communities at Seme Border to discuss the project’s impact and benefits.
The Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway is a major regional infrastructure initiative expected to facilitate trade and movement across West Africa.
