Heads of ECOWAS member states met yesterday to finalise and approve the design of the Lagos-Abidjan Corridor Highway Development Project preparatory to initiating the procurement process at its next meeting.

The meeting which was held in Lagos, was chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, discussed the project which is expected to cost 15 billion dollars and deepen regional economic integration.

The project is currently at its study phase, an indication that detailed research, planning, and design are still ongoing.

Highlighting the history and progress of the Lagos-Abidjan Highway Development Project, Umahi mentioned that the project, initiated in 2013, had received significant funding support from the African Development Bank.

He noted that the current meeting aimed to finalise and approve the design of the project, as it was nearing a crucial stage where concrete steps towards implementation could be taken.

He noted that the heads of member states of ECOWAS have met to agree on the project and that various stages of development, including design, environmental impact assessment, and funding mechanisms, had been ongoing for the past 11 years.

“The design of the project, ESIA design, conceptualisation, funding mechanisms have been on in the past 11 years.

“As of today, we are going to listen to the committee of experts in terms of the design and so we believe that we will finalise and approve the design today, and then we set the goal for procurement, probably in our next meeting,” he said.

On his part, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Ghana, Mr Francis Boakye, emphasised the importance of infrastructure, particularly roads, in driving socio-economic development.

He highlighted how highways could facilitate trade, tourism, and economic activities, and cited the example of the United States’ economic boom as evidence of this correlation.

Boakye emphasised the significance of the Lagos-Abidjan highway project in promoting economic integration within West Africa.

He also noted that the depth of Ghana’s involvement in the project demonstrated its commitment to regional economic integration.

Dr Amede Kouakou, Minister of Equipment and Road Maintenance of Cote d’Ivoire, said he, along with the other ministers involved in the Lagos-Abidjan highway development project, were committed to making accelerated progress with the project.

He specifically spoke of his intention to take deliberate steps to ensure that the project became a reality for the citizens of Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria.

The Lagos-Abidjan Corridor Highway, scheduled to begin in 2025, is part of the greater Dakar-Lagos Corridor and one of the flagship priority development programmes of ECOWAS.

The about 1068 kilometers project will cover five ECOWAS member countries , namely – Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, and Nigeria, and will traverse eight border towns (four country-pair land borders) beginning from Eric Moore and ending in Abidjan.

The project is financed by the African Development Bank.

From the federal government yesterday came 100 trailers of milled rice to the victims of the recent flood tragedy in Borno State.

Also approved for the victims by President Bola Tinubu were 50 trailers of maize, 30 trailers of sorghum and 20 trailers of millet to help ameliorate their sufferings.

The President’s son, Seyi, has separately mobilised 50 medical personnel to provide medical support services to the victims.

Agriculture Minister Abubakar Kyari who confirmed the Federal government’s donation yesterday said it followed the President’s recent visit to Maiduguri to commiserate with the government and people of the state on the tragedy.

He said he had the  President’s approval to “deliver 6,000 tonnes of assorted food items to the Borno State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, CON, @ProfZulum on behalf of the Federal Government. These include: 100 trailers of milled rice, 50 trailers of maize, 30 trailers of sorghum ,20 trailers of millet.”

Two thousand water pumps are also part of the donation to  assist communities still affected by flooding.

He said  a committee would  be formed under the National Agricultural Development Fund to evaluate and provide recommendations for improving agricultural activities in the state.

According to Kyari, this initiative aims to ensure that individuals whose livelihoods rely on farming receive the necessary support to rebuild their futures.

The Osun State Police Command has dragged two bankers, namely Adeoti Adebisi Awanat and Samson Adediji, before a magistrate court sitting in Osogbo for allegedly defrauding two people of N25 million.

The Nation had published a report about one of the bankers, Awanat, who was pregnant when she was arraigned before the court, claiming that she gave birth in prison.

More details have however emerged to the effect that she gave birth while she was on bail.

The bankers allegedly defrauded Dr Olaggunoye Ajibola and Mrs Daramola Oyindamola of N25 million under the guise of subscribing to a bank package, Proof of Fund.

Awanat and Adediji had pleaded not guilty to the offences of fraud filed against them by the police and were granted bail on July 3, 2024.

The Presiding Magistrate, Dr Olusegun Ayilara, granted them bail with two sureties in like sum, one of which must be a Level 14 officer and a bank manager, and not a traditional ruler as earlier claimed.

Meanwhile, they could not perfect their bail, prompting their being remanded in the Ilesa correctional facility.

At the last adjourned date, the presiding Magistrate, Dr. Ayilara, was informed that Awanat had given birth while she was in the custody of the correctional facility.

A letter dated August 29 2024, with reference number IC. 48/VOL.V and addressed by the Nigeria Correctional Service to Magistrate Ayilara, notified the court that Awanat, who is standing trial in charge number MOS/200c/2024, had given birth.

The letter signed by Chief Superintendent of Corrections, A. A Alade, stated: “I am directed to inform you that the above named Inmate in llesa Custodial Centre had been delivered of a baby on 29th August, 2024,

“She is currently at the hospital receiving treatment after the Caesarean session.”