en.Wedoany.com Reported - Five West African countries have officially established the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority, tasked with the construction and operation of a $16 billion coastal highway. Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire have all formally agreed to set up this regional body, aiming to accelerate international transport among the nations and promote trade and economic integration in West Africa.

The highway, spanning 1,028 kilometers, is designed as a dual three-lane carriageway. Several sections are currently under construction, with the entire route expected to be operational by 2030. The project cost has risen during construction, sparking some commentary and concern, primarily due to increases in labor, materials, and equipment prices following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new West African coastal highway will also connect to Nigeria's own coastal highway—currently under construction, intended to link Lagos in the southwest with Calabar in the southeast—and extend to neighboring Cameroon.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group is providing $235 million in funding for a road project in Côte d'Ivoire. The funds will be used to build a section of the highway corridor from Abidjan to the borders of Burkina Faso and Mali, specifically the 60-kilometer stretch between Tafiré and Ferkessédougou. This project will add an international link for Côte d'Ivoire, providing landlocked West African nations Mali and Burkina Faso with more convenient access to the sea, connecting to the Autonomous Port of Abidjan and the new West African coastal highway.