A landmark new infrastructure project is set to reshape West Africa with a £12bn motorway linking 12 countries along the continent's west coast.
Measuring over 6,000 kilometers, the West African Coastal Highway (TAH 7) aims to revolutionize regional transport, boost trade and strengthen economic and cultural links between nations from Mauritania to Nigeria.
Currently, traveling from Lagos, Nigeria to Dakar, Senegal is a difficult journey beset by poor road infrastructure, lengthy border procedures, and socio-economic hurdles.
Despite optimistic map estimates, it will take more than a week to traverse this route.
TAH 7 promises to streamline this movement, reduce travel times and strengthen economic integration by providing a reliable and efficient transport network.
The highway is part of the Trans-African Highway Network developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Development Bank (ADB) and the African Union.
Once completed, this project will facilitate travel from Nouakchott, Mauritania in the west to Lagos, Nigeria in the east.
Additional feeder roads will connect landlocked countries like Mali and Burkina Faso, making the highway an important artery for regional commerce and mobility.
The project will also become a platform for economic and cultural exchange.
Plans include the development of border architecture that reflects each country's cultural identity and fosters a sense of place and pride.
Border markets along the route are also expected to flourish as hubs for trade in local goods and raw materials, further integrating the regional economy.
Despite its promises, the project has faced criticism over environmental concerns, particularly the lack of a comprehensive environmental impact assessment and measures to protect coastal ecosystems.
Activists and local leaders are calling on the government and ECOWAS to address these issues to ensure that highway development is sustainable and environmentally responsible.
The highway also aims to democratize access to coastal areas, much of which is currently privatized.
Urban renewal efforts along this route are expected to introduce pedestrian walkways, cycling spaces, and recreational facilities, creating more equitable and vibrant coastal communities.
