Massive new £11bn highway connecting five West African countries

By Rebecca Robinson ( Express.co.uk)

The coastal highway will stretch from Lagos in Nigeria to Abidjan in Ivory Coast, passing through Benin, Togo and Ghana.

The road is intended to boost the economies of five African countries. (Image: Getty)

A new highway set to span from Nigeria to the Ivory Coast is expected to significantly boost the economies of five West African nations and benefit over 40 million people.

The new highway is expected to significantly boost the economies of five African nations.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is organising funding for the project. In March 2022, the bank announced the funding target for the public-private partnership had been exceeded.

The majority of the road will be a six-lane motorway and will be constructed in three phases.

The road compromises a 295km stretch from Abidjan to Takoradi in Ghana; a 466km section from Takoradi to Akanu, also in Ghana; and a final 320km route to Lagos, passing through Lome in Togo and Porto-Novo in Benin. 

Eight border posts will also be established along the corridor.

The Nigerian portion of the project involves the 66km Lagos-Badagry Expressway, which will expand the existing road from four to 10 lanes, and include a light rail and a bus rapid transit system.

The project,  kicked off in 2020.

Source: Express.co.uk