US-AU working group targets Lagos-Abidjan highway to boost Africa's 15% intra-continental trade
The US and African Union Commission launched the Strategic Infrastructure and Investment Working Group (SIWG) on January 28, 2026 to drive investment and trade across Africa, with specific focus on the Lagos-Abidjan coastal highway and other priority projects. Unlike past US initiatives, this positions the AU as co-creator of projects aligned with Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
This matters because intra-African trade currently stands at just 15% or less of Africa's total trade—far below Europe's 67%—creating massive untapped potential for Nigerian businesses. The Lagos-Abidjan highway would directly reduce transport costs and time for goods moving between Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire, while SIWG's focus on critical minerals and digital infrastructure could open investment opportunities in Nigeria's solid minerals sector and tech ecosystem.
SIWG aims to channel American and African private investment into Agenda 2063 projects, but success depends on Nigerian stakeholders engaging early. Will you monitor SIWG developments for potential partnership opportunities in infrastructure, trade facilitation, or critical minerals, or advocate for Nigerian business inclusion in the AU's oversight coalitions to ensure projects deliver local benefits?