The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, has confirmed that the institution, along with other partners, will mobilize $15 billion to fund the construction of the Lagos-Abidjan Highway. This announcement was made during the 90th birthday celebration of former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, in Abuja.
Adesina emphasized the importance of the highway project, which is managed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), noting that the corridor will facilitate 80% of trade in the region. Once completed, it will enhance transport connections between Nigeria and the rest of West Africa.
Adesina also highlighted AfDB’s broader infrastructure investments, which include a $12.6 million feasibility study for the Lagos-Abidjan corridor, $300 million for the Enugu to Cameroon project, and $40 million towards reducing traffic congestion on the Lekki toll road in Lagos. Over the past eight years, AfDB has invested more than $55 billion in infrastructure development across Africa, including roads, highways, seaports, airports, and ICT networks.
The Lagos-Abidjan highway, a critical infrastructure initiative, will connect five West African nations—Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire—across 1,068 kilometers. It is part of ECOWAS’s broader Dakar-Lagos Corridor initiative and is expected to support regional economic integration, boost trade, tourism, and carry over 500,000 passengers daily.