The Federal Government has concluded plans to build the Nigerian section of the proposed Lagos-Abidjan highway using concrete technology.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi stated this on Thursday while receiving a delegation from the Economic Community of West African States led by the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation Sediko Douka, in Abuja.
The 1,028-kilometre road project was initiated by the Heads of State and Governments of the Corridor Member States namely: Benin 128 km, Cote d’Ivoire 155 km, Ghana 576km, Nigeria 79.5km and Togo 89.2km in Yamoussoukro, Cote D’Ivoire.
Umahi said that for ease of work and speedy completion, the highway project should be divided into sections.
The minister promised to fast-track the completion of the country’s 79.5-kilometre section of the highway while adapting to feasibility results and technical studies.
He stated that the roads would be constructed without issues of portholes or washouts and could withstand heavy traffic loads.
“There are a lot of advantages when using concrete to construct roads. Concrete roads last longer compared to asphalt roads and reduces the need for frequent repairs and maintenance. It also has low maintenance and this has been adopted by the Nigerian government.
“Also, I think for ease of work and speedy completion, the project should be sectioned and put in a process to make it achievable because some sections might be viable while some other sections might not be”, he said.
When completed, the road project would propel a rapid integration of the region, boost commercial activities and improve social development among member states.
“We should fast-track the completion of our section following the feasibility result and technical studies and design. This is a laudable project for rapid growth and development,” Umahi said.
Douka noted that Africa’s economic integration was hampered by large deficit in transportation infrastructure, which is why the 2050 ECOWAS vision seeks to enhance infrastructure development and enable the free movement of people and goods in the region.
He pointed out that the steering committee of the project is made up of the Ministers of Works of Corridor Member States, the commissioner for Infrastructure of the ECOWAS Commission and Umahi.
The Director of Infrastructure Department, ECOWAS, Engr Malik Ashoke sought for the urgent need to install scanning machines and weighbridges on the link bridge between Nigeria and Cameroon.
These were contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the Assistant Director of Information in the ministry, Clement Ezeorah.
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