The ECOWAS Commission has concluded a three-day technical review of a draft interim report for the Trade and Transport Facilitation Study of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project. The project aims to establish a framework that will enable the corridor highway to operate under a single customs regime, eliminating border stops for travelers and traders. Additionally, the framework includes an automated third-party insurance scheme, the "ECOWAS Brown Card," for cross-border vehicles.
The workshop was chaired by Eng. Ibi Terna, Director of Highway Planning and Development at Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Works. It brought together representatives from various sectors such as Roads and Highways, Immigration, Free Movement, Customs, Trade, and other international stakeholders and development partners. The goal was to agree on a framework to facilitate the movement of trade, persons, vehicles, and services along the new Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway without creating unjustified impediments.
Acting Director of Transport for ECOWAS, Mr. Chris Appiah stated, “the corridor Treaty signed by the Heads of State and Government of the five Corridor Countries conveyed their vision to transform the corridor into an economic development corridor." He added that this transformation would not only facilitate transportation but also boost major economic activities in manufacturing, industrialization, tourism, agriculture around the corridor.
Mr. Albert Siaw-Boateng, Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration for ECOWAS emphasized the importance of ensuring free movement within ECOWAS through initiatives like the “Interstate Passenger” scheme and proposed “ECOVISA” for travelers from outside the region. He said these measures are being prepared in anticipation of completing the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway to enhance free movement and reduce harassment along the route.
The Executive Director of ECOWAS Brown Card, Mr. Kwasi Winfred Dodzih highlighted that his organization is committed to working with ECOWAS Commission's Transport and Free Movement Directorate to ensure a harmonized vehicle insurance scheme is in place. He noted that such an insurance scheme is necessary due to frequent accidents on regional corridors.
Participants from both public and private institutions involved in facilitating trade and transport along the corridor reviewed the interim study by consultants and provided inputs regarding current trade facilitation situations on the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor.
The technical studies for this regional flagship infrastructure development project are financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), with contributions from the European Union and ECOWAS Commission. Each Corridor Country also contributed $1.4 million towards technical studies and project preparation activities.
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