The Chadian government has requested Nigeria’s support to build a 65-kilometre bridge across Lake Chad, aiming to establish a direct transportation link between the two countries.
Speaking during a bilateral meeting in Abuja, Chad’s Minister of Infrastructure and Road Maintenance, Amir Idriss Kourda, said the project forms part of a broader Fluvio-Lacustrine Connectivity Programme designed to boost regional integration.
“The proposed corridor will ease the movement of goods and people, promote economic development, improve accessibility, strengthen social cohesion, and deepen political and diplomatic cooperation across the Sahel,” Kourda said.
He called for immediate technical and administrative discussions between the two countries to determine project modalities, financing plans, and collaborative frameworks.
Kourda also suggested that future talks could include port and transport infrastructure, as well as joint initiatives to protect the Lake Chad ecosystem.
Responding, Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, assured that Nigeria remains committed to partnerships that foster regional development.
He described Chad as a strategic and long-standing ally and said the Ministry of Works would act once formal communication and presidential approval are received.
Earlier, Umahi met with a delegation from the ECOWAS Commission, who briefed him on technical studies and financing options for the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project. He instructed that additional inputs be included ahead of the next ECOWAS Steering Committee meeting, scheduled to take place virtually on 19 December.
The proposed Lake Chad bridge is expected to enhance trade, mobility, and cooperation in the region, potentially transforming economic and social dynamics across the Sahel.