By Nkechi Eze
Nigeria’s efforts to advance regional infrastructure development and economic integration in West Africa received a boost as the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, chaired the 23rd Ministerial Steering Committee Meeting of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project in Lomé, Togo.
The meeting, held on Friday, October 30, 2026, brought together ministers and key stakeholders from participating West African countries and development partners to review progress and address critical issues affecting the delivery of the strategic regional highway project.
According to an official statement signed by Francis Nwaze, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Works on Media, Umahi’s participation as Chairman of the Steering Committee underscores Nigeria’s role in driving regional infrastructure cooperation in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of leveraging infrastructure development to unlock economic opportunities and strengthen regional connectivity.
The ministerial meeting is expected to consider and adopt the report and recommendations of the 23rd Technical Meeting of the Committee of Experts, which held on October 26 and 27, 2026.
The technical session reviewed progress across the project’s components, with particular attention to the right-of-way, the operationalisation of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority (ALCoMA) and the mobilisation of investment financing by the African Development Bank (AfDB), which serves as the project’s Mandatory Lead Arranger.
The experts also examined complementary projects being undertaken by other development partners and discussed strategies for advancing the technical studies necessary for the successful implementation of the highway.
At the ministerial level, the AfDB is expected to present an update on efforts to mobilise investment financing, while the ALCoMA Board of Directors will submit reports and recommendations from its first and second board meetings for consideration.
The Steering Committee is expected to deliberate on the submissions and adopt relevant resolutions to strengthen institutional coordination, address outstanding implementation issues and sustain progress towards the realisation of the project.
The Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project is a major multinational infrastructure initiative designed to improve connectivity among West African economies, facilitate cross-border trade and ease the movement of people, goods and services.
Its successful implementation is expected to strengthen economic cooperation among participating countries, improve regional transportation networks and create new opportunities for trade and investment.
The Federal Ministry of Works, under Umahi’s leadership, has continued to pursue infrastructure development as a strategic component of the Tinubu administration’s economic agenda, with emphasis on improved connectivity, economic growth and regional integration.
