As part of its ongoing communications and visibility study for the ECOWAS Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway project, ECOWAS through the consultant offering communications and visibility services has successfully initiated community/stakeholders’ engagement and sensitization activities across the corridor.
These efforts are aimed at fostering understanding, building relationships, and ensuring active community participation in the project, which spans from Lagos, Nigeria, to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The community engagement sessions, which began in the month of March in Lagos have been designed to inform local residents, stakeholders, and leaders about the benefits, challenges, and milestones of the highway.
The consultant’s approach emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and the inclusion of local voices in the project’s implementation process. To date, sensitization activities, town hall meetings, radio programs, novelty football match in schools and distribution of Information, Education and Communication materials are ongoing.
In Lagos Nigeria, communities already engaged includes Seme, (Seme-Krake Joint Border Post), Badagry, Agbara, Ijaniki, Okokomaiko, FESTAC and Orile.
In Togo, sensitization activities began in and covered locations like Lome, Noepe, Tsevie and Agome Glozou where community members were given an overview of the project’s objectives, its expected economic and social impacts, and the potential opportunities for local involvement.
The engagement sessions include interactive discussions, presentations, and Question and Answer (Q&A) segments that allowed attendees to express their concerns and suggestions, fostering a two-way dialogue. Special attention was also given to addressing concerns regarding land acquisition, compensation, environmental impact, and employment opportunities.
Through these engagements, ECOWAS aims to create a foundation of trust and cooperation between the project team and the communities affected by the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway, ensuring that the buy-in of all stakeholders involved.
