A new groundbreaking infrastructure project will reshape West Africa with a £12 billion highway that connects 12 countries along the continent’s western coast.
The Trans-West African Coastal Highway (TAH 7), which spans over 6,000 kilometres, aims to revolutionize regional transportation, facilitate trade, and strengthen economic and cultural ties among nations from Mauritania to Nigeria.
Currently, travelling from Lagos, Nigeria, to Dakar, Senegal, is a daunting journey plagued by poor road infrastructure, lengthy border processes, and socio-economic hurdles.
Despite optimistic mapping estimates, traversing this route takes over a week.
TAH 7 promises to streamline this journey, reduce travel times, and bolster economic integration by providing a reliable, efficient transportation 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 complete, the project will facilitate travel from Nouakchott, Mauritania in the west to Lagos, Nigeria in the east.
Additional feeder roads will link landlocked countries like Mali and Burkina Faso, making the highway a critical artery for commerce and mobility in the region.
The project will also be a platform for economic and cultural exchange.
Plans include the development of border architecture that reflects the cultural identity of each nation, fostering a sense of place and pride.
Border markets are also expected to flourish along the route, serving as hubs for trade in local goods and raw materials, further integrating regional economies.
Despite its promise, 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 community leaders have called on governments and ECOWAS to address these issues to ensure the highway’s development is sustainable and environmentally conscious.
The highway also aims to democratize access to coastal areas, many of which are currently privatized.
Urban regeneration initiatives along the route are expected to introduce pedestrian pathways, cycling spaces, and recreational facilities, creating more equitable and vibrant coastal communities.
