Abuja, Nigeria | Tuesday, September 16, 2025
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening economic and social integration across the region with the advancement of the Praia–Dakar–Abidjan motorway project.
The ambitious transnational road network is expected to link Cape Verde’s capital, Praia, with Dakar in Senegal and Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire, creating a major transportation corridor to ease movement of goods, services, and people. Officials say the project will cut travel time, boost intra-regional trade, and facilitate cross-border investments.
According to ECOWAS, the motorway is a critical step toward achieving the bloc’s vision of a borderless and economically integrated West Africa. By improving transport infrastructure, the initiative is projected to enhance market access, lower logistical costs, and promote tourism, while also creating jobs during and after construction.
Regional leaders have described the project as not only an economic venture but also a political and social integration tool, capable of strengthening unity among member states.
Analysts believe the superhighway could become West Africa’s most significant infrastructure project in decades, complementing other regional initiatives such as the Lagos–Abidjan corridor and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
