The management of the Autonomous Port of Lome has applauded the ECOWAS Commission for efforts and progress made on the construction of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project thus far, in order to improve trade and transport infrastructure in West Africa to enhance overall economic development in the region.
Welcoming a delegation of experts from the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Member States, ECOWAS Directorates and stakeholders from the trade sector who were undertaking a review of an interim Trade and Transport facilitation study on the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor in Lome, the Director of Communications, Public Relations and International Affairs and Cooperation of the Autonomous Port of Lome, Ahmed Awemewetou Haladoko emphasized that the ECOWAS Commission needs to be praised for its extraordinary efforts in ensuring that the ambitious dream of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Project is becoming a reality.
“This is our desire to have the infrastructure and the connection to the Port improved as much as possible and it is our main aim to see the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project materialized.”
Briefing management of the Autonomous Port of Lome on progress made on the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project so far, Mr. Selmene Mohamed, the Coordinator of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project expressed his gratitude over the interest shown in the project by the management of the Port of Lome and explained that the Spatial Development and Trade and Transport facilitation components of the project are being finalized which will soon witness the physical commencement of the project.
“We hope that we finalize these components as soon as possible, so that next year, we can start launching some sections and see the materialization of this all-important project.” Mr. Mohamed articulated.
The Director of Communications, Public Relations and International Affairs and Cooperation of the Autonomous Port of Lome, Ahmed Awemewetou Haladoko, opined, that the level of progress made with the Spatial Development and the Trade and Transport Facilitation Studies are significant in realizing the improvement of the Trade and Transport infrastructure in West Africa which is part of the overall vision of the continent.
“The fact that this spatial development and trade and transport facilitation studies are progressing as part of this economic corridor project is a very important component, because as you know, the African Continental Free Trade Area project is now being implemented and the Trade and Transport facilitation in the free trade area development can all contribute to economic development and will be beneficial for the population of the region”.
Mr. Ahmed Awemewetou Haladoko further explained that as management of the Port of Lome, they have been preparing for the economic renaissance on the continent and in particular West Africa for some time now.
“We have developed and made a huge amount of investment to produce a port that has a depth of 17m at the main harbour and 19m at the wharf to accept the biggest container vessels and ships in operation. So now, all the container vessels and ships from Europe and Asia, their preferred destination is the Lome Port”
The delegation led by the Chairman of the Technical Experts Committee of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project and Director of Highway Planning and Development of the Federal Ministry of Works of Nigeria; Eng. Ibi Terna also undertook a field visit to the newly completed terminals of the Port of Lome.
