FG Explains Complexity About Reconstruction of Lagos-Badagry Expressway and ECOWAS Abidjan-Lagos Highway

By Dansu Peter  Mrs. Olukorede Kesha  The Federal Government has provided clarification on the complexity surrounding the reconstruction of...

By Dansu Peter 

Mrs. Olukorede Kesha 

The Federal Government has provided clarification on the complexity surrounding the reconstruction of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway and its intersection with the ambitious ECOWAS Abidjan-Lagos Highway project.

Speaking during a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday, the Federal Controller of Works, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, addressed public concerns about the nature and scope of the ongoing Lagos-Badagry Expressway rehabilitation, as well as its strategic role within the larger West African corridor.

Kesha explained that Nigeria’s contribution to the transnational Abidjan-Lagos Highway spans 79 kilometres, beginning at Eric Moore and terminating at the Seme Border. This stretch forms a critical segment of the 1,028-kilometre corridor connecting five ECOWAS member states—Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.

“The existing Lagos-Badagry Expressway is a Federal Government project, covering 79km from Eric Moore to Seme,” Kesha clarified. She stressed that although the Lagos-Badagry Expressway is being handled by different government entities, it remains integral to Nigeria's portion of the broader regional infrastructure plan.

She noted that within this stretch, a 46.2-kilometre section—from Agbara to Seme—has already been contracted under the regional highway initiative. Meanwhile, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) is responsible for the Okokomaiko–Agbara axis, and the Lagos State Government is managing the 10-kilometre portion from Eric Moore to Igbo Elerin.

Kesha further explained that the initial design of the Abidjan-Lagos corridor proposed a 10-lane superhighway, incorporating service lanes, light rail, and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors to enhance regional mobility and trade. However, she indicated that the unified blueprint may be under review, with ECOWAS member states possibly being asked to implement their sections independently.

“What we are doing now are three lanes without service lanes,” she said. “They may later add service lanes, and provisions for light rail and BRT, to better serve communities along the corridor.”

Kesha also revealed that the final design of the regional highway is still in development, with a proposed right-of-way of 120 metres. She emphasized that flexibility in project design and coordination among the five nations is key to harmonizing national priorities with regional integration goals.

The government’s explanation underscores the complexity of balancing domestic infrastructure upgrades with broader continental initiatives, especially as Nigeria plays a central role in driving connectivity across West Africa.