The Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority (ALCoMA) has successfully held the inaugural meeting of its Board of Directors in Lagos, Nigeria, marking a major milestone in the realization of the transformative Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway project.
The two-day meeting brought together Board members representing the five Corridor Member States of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo as well as representatives from the ECOWAS Commission and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
During the meeting, the Board established key governance structures to guide the Authority’s operations and accelerate the transition of the Corridor project from the investment phase to implementation. In line with the provisions of the Inter-Governmental Agreement, Mr. Wilfrid Lauriano DO REGO of Benin was designated as the first Chairperson of the Board for a two-year term, while Mr. AYADJI Omolade Hodonou Sourou Jacques was designated Deputy Chairperson.
The Board also constituted interim Human Resources and Remuneration, and Finance Committees to support the Authority during its foundational phase. These committees will oversee critical activities, including executive recruitment, financial planning, and investment mobilization.
A significant outcome of the meeting was the endorsement of the African Development Bank (AfDB) as a non-voting member of the Board, recognizing its longstanding technical and financial support to the Corridor initiative. The Board further endorsed the Joint AfDB-ECOWAS-EBID Project Management Office (PMO) to coordinate financing efforts for the project.
The Board adopted an operational roadmap outlining immediate priorities, including the recruitment of the Chief Executive Officer, Legal Corporate Secretary, and key Directors, while reaffirming its commitment to maintaining momentum toward project delivery.
The Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway is a flagship regional infrastructure initiative designed to connect major economic centers across Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria through a modern six-lane highway. Expected to significantly boost regional trade, economic integration, and industrial development, the project is poised to become one of Africa’s most impactful infrastructure investments.
The successful convening of ALCoMA’s first Board Meeting lays the institutional foundation for the advancement of this landmark.
