The Federal Authorities has reaffirmed its sturdy dedication to the actualization of the 1028km Lagos–Abidjan Hall, a significant regional freeway anticipated to rework commerce and connectivity throughout West Africa.
This assurance was given by the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON throughout a high-level assembly in his workplace, Mabutshi, Abuja on Thursday, April 23, 2026, with delegations from the ECOWAS Fee and the African Improvement {Bank}. The staff visited Nigeria in his capability as Chairman of the Steering Committee for the challenge and the nation’s consultant on the ministerial degree, to temporary him on progress and resolve excellent technical and financing points.
The challenge is connecting Cote D’Ivoire from Abidjan, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria from Lagos.
Talking on the assembly, Umahi conveyed the backing of the president, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR stressing that infrastructure growth stays central to the administration’s agenda.
“I convey greetings from His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, who’s totally dedicated to infrastructural growth in Nigeria,” the minister mentioned.
He defined that the Lagos–Abidjan hall, spanning about 1,028 kilometres, is being developed to match the size and ambition of Nigeria’s ongoing Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway. Based on him, the challenge will function bolstered concrete pavement, three lanes on every carriageway, and fashionable highway design requirements aimed toward long-term sturdiness.
Umahi used the chance to focus on the size of ongoing highway investments throughout Nigeria, linking them on to the regional hall imaginative and prescient. He famous that main sections of the Sokoto–Badagry route are already below development, with vital {financial} commitments.
“On the finish of the hall, which is able to join with the Lagos–Abidjan route at Badagry, we’ve got the Badagry part, 100 and sixty-two kilometers, already awarded and ongoing,” he mentioned. “We’re additionally going to the Federal Govt Council for the Uyo part, 100 and eighty kilometers, for award this week.”
He emphasised that the Lagos–Abidjan challenge will not be remoted however a part of a broader community of interconnected highways, together with the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Freeway and a number of other legacy routes chopping throughout all six geopolitical zones.
“This challenge will drive commerce throughout West Africa and the African coast,” Umahi said, including that the coastal freeway alone covers 750 kilometres, with a number of sections already accomplished, ongoing, or nearing commissioning.
Offering additional updates, he mentioned:
“Part one, forty-seven level 4 seven kilometers in Lagos, is accomplished and will likely be commissioned in Could. Part two, fifty-five kilometers, will attain the Ogun boundary and is anticipated to be accomplished by December.”
He added that development can be advancing steadily in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, with extra sections heading to the Federal Govt Council for approval.
Past the coastal route, the minister outlined a 3rd legacy hall linking Lagos to Abuja via Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa States, in addition to a fourth hall extending from Abuja via the North-Central and North-East areas.
“These tasks signify a significant transformation not only for Nigeria however for the broader West African area,” he mentioned.
Umahi additionally pointed to ongoing work on important nationwide highways such because the Abuja–Kano highway, components of that are anticipated to be accomplished inside the yr, alongside tasks like Sokoto–Zamfara–Kaduna–Katsina, Enugu–Onitsha, and the East–West Street.
Based on him, the Tinubu administration is intentionally prioritizing sturdiness by adopting bolstered concrete know-how for lots of the roads.
“President Bola Tinubu is delivering sturdy infrastructure designed to final over 100 years,” he mentioned. “His method to {economic} reform, together with subsidy elimination and foreign money changes is long-term nationwide planning, even when not totally understood by the general public.”
On the Lagos–Abidjan hall itself, the minister defined that there are unresolved points. He raised issues about design and unequal distribution of the hall size amongst collaborating international locations.
“On the engineering facet, I will likely be direct. There are unresolved points on the Lagos–Abidjan hall,” Umahi said. “The distribution of hall size throughout international locations is unequal and may solely be resolved on the degree of heads of state.”
He disclosed that Nigeria’s part of the hall is roughly 79.5 kilometres however will likely be executed to the next normal than initially proposed.
“I’m executing mine with bolstered concrete and three lanes, not the two-lane ECOWAS design. I’ve additionally rejected points of the ECOWAS design because of lack of session and impractical parts,” he mentioned.
Umahi added that Nigeria is at present creating its personal design framework, anticipated to be accomplished inside two weeks, bearing in mind current infrastructure and real-world situations alongside the route.
“We’re creating our personal design… It’s going to account for current infrastructure, obstacles alongside the hall, and sensible implementation realities,” he defined.
He careworn that selections on funding fashions have to be taken on the highest political degree earlier than the challenge can proceed to procurement and full financing.
“As soon as the design is finalized and authorized by member states, the funding mannequin have to be agreed by heads of state… Till that’s resolved, transferring into procurement and financing is untimely. That’s my place,” he mentioned.
Regardless of these challenges, the minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to the challenge.
“We stay dedicated to this challenge as a result of it’s going to join Nigeria’s infrastructure to neighboring international locations and ship mutual advantages,” he mentioned, asserting plans to host ECOWAS and technical groups for additional engagement.
Earlier, the ECOWAS Director of Transport, Chris Appiah, defined that the mission was a part of ongoing consultations with member states.
“Honorable Minister… we’ve got had a number of engagements along with your challenge focal staff and your technical consultants on the Nigeria part of the freeway,” he mentioned. “We’ve got gone via the designs, taken feedback, and offered responses.”
He famous that related consultations had been held with Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo, whereas engagement with Benin is scheduled to comply with its current elections.
“We’re right here right now to report back to you because the Chair of the Steering Committee… and to take any ultimate points on the technical facet,” Appiah added.
On financing, the African Improvement {Bank} delegation, led by Salawou Mike Moukaila, described the challenge as a high precedence for the {bank}.
“As you tasked the {bank} to mobilize financing for the hall, we’ve got taken this very significantly,” Moukaila mentioned. “Our senior administration, together with the president of the {bank}, has made this challenge a precedence as a result of it’s going to improve regional integration.”
He defined that the {bank} is at present endeavor an “identification mission” throughout 25 international locations to design a financing framework and kick-start an preliminary section of the challenge.
“There may be sturdy curiosity from co-financiers inside and out of doors Africa,” he famous. “They need to see the {bank} take the lead in financing and mobilizing its devices.”
Moukaila added that the initiative aligns with the strategic priorities of the {bank}’s management, notably in selling infrastructure, commerce, and regional integration.
He additionally emphasised Nigeria’s central function within the success of the hall.
“The Nigerian part is strategically vital as a result of a good portion of commerce originates from Nigeria alongside this hall,” he mentioned.
In closing, the AfDB delegation counseled the Nigerian authorities for its infrastructure drive.
“On behalf of the {bank}, we commend President Bola Tinubu and the Minister for championing infrastructure growth in Nigeria, which is important for regional connectivity throughout West, Central, and East Africa,” Moukaila mentioned.
He described the Lagos–Abidjan Hall as “a recreation changer” and invited the minister to share Nigeria’s expertise on the upcoming Africa Transport Discussion board in Abidjan.