Nigeria’s works and housing minister Babatunde Fashola has said that some of the ongoing road construction projects of the Federal Government are aimed at connecting East, West, North and South African countries by road.
Fashola made this known at the 70th Session of the Trans Sahara Road Liaison Committee in Abuja, informing Member Country Ministers in charge of road infrastructure from Tunisia, Algeria, Mali, Chad and Niger of Nigeria’s efforts towards the establishment of the Trans Sahara Route.
According to him, “Trans African Highway Plan [seeks] to connect Africa from Cape Town to Tunisia either by driving through East Africa Border, the West African Border or through the Centre of Africa,”
“There is also a Coast to Coast connectivity from West to East Africa, North-East Africa to North-West Africa and South-West Africa to East Africa.
“Three of these highways, he said to pass through the territory of Nigeria,” Fashola added.
The Nigerian minister explained that a total of 9 highways at different stages of construction are meant to achieve African connectivity.
Fashola listed Lagos – Dakar through Seme in the Benin Republic, Lagos – Mombasa through Yaoundè in Cameroon and Lagos – Algiers, which was the subject of the meeting in Abuja as the parts the Nigerian government is playing to contribute to the connectivity between African countries.
Fashola observed that the Trans Sahara Route would help facilitate the improvement of economic activities and cooperation between Member Countries.
He said the Trans Sahara Route and the recent signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) Treaty is a top priority in President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan to integrate and expand Nigeria’s economy.
