FG committed to Lagos-Abidjan highway – Osinbajo

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the Federal Government is commitment to the realization of the Abidjan-Lagos corridor highway development and its completion.
Osinbajo made the disclosure in his keynote address at the 9th Steering Committee Meeting for the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway development in Abuja, saying the Federal Government was excited over the opportunities provided by the project to small businesses.
He said when completed, it would constitute the primary driver of economies of the sub-region. According to him, the development of the corridor will hopefully set a stage for the formalization of the vast informal economies that exist in and around countries of the region.
He said that the steering committee meeting shows the strong relationship existing among ECOWAS countries. “We may live in different countries, speak different languages, spend different currencies but we share a common history, goals and aspirations.
“The development of the Abidjan-Lagos corridor is one of the flagship projects of the ECOWAS and we believe it will promote regional integration, trade, tourism and other forms of economic activities.
“There is no doubt that connecting West Africa by means of an efficient road network is one of the easiest and most direct ways of boosting local and international economies.”
The vice president said the development of the corridor would also go a long way in resolving hindrances to cross border trading in West Africa.
Osinbajo commended the commitment of development partners including the African Development Bank, Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) and other financial institutions to the realization of the project.
He urged members of the committee to also deliberate on ways to promote unity, peace, good neighbourliness, security and rule of law within ECOWAS and the African Union.
Earlier, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, in his welcoming address reiterated supportive role of the ECOWAS Commission and the African Development Bank toward the delivering the project.
Fashola, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee, maintained that the project would promote cross border trade, social and cultural integration as well as enhance prosperity in the sub-region.
He said the committee was moving toward the completion of the preparatory work, “Nigeria had ratified the treaty and signed the financing agreement. Newsmen report that Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Cote D’Ivoire are the countries involved in the Abidjan-Lagos corridor.