Construction

Nigeria, Ivory Coast megaproject shapes up (Image source: Adobe Stock)

A new figurehead has been appointed to drive forward the development of the proposed US$15bn Abidjan-Lagos highway megaproject

The board of directors of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority (ALCoMA) recently appointed Beninois finance expert Wilfried Lauriano do Rego as board chairman for a two-year term, at its inaugural meeting in Nigeria.

The 1,081 km Abidjan-Lagos Corridor represents one of Africa’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.

It entails the construction of a six-lane supranational highway linking the capitals and major economic centres of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria, while integrating trade and transport facilitation, value chain development and logistics components.

Do Rego’s appointment is in accordance with an intergovernmental agreement, which provides for alphabetical rotation among member states starting with Benin.

Jacques Ayadji, also from Benin, automatically assumes the role of vice-chairperson.

The ALCoMA meeting also outlined actions needed to drive forward the corridor’s medium- and long-term transformation.

The project is expected to become a major driver of economic and industrial development in West Africa by 2030.

The ECOWAS Commission, the African Development Bank Group, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), the West African Development Bank (BOAD) are currently working together with other partners to mobilise financing.

Various interim subcommittees were also formed during the recent Lagos meetings, including a finance committe, to support ALCoMA in mobilising funding for the highway.

The ALCoMA board also called on other development partners, including the European Union and the World Bank, to support the construction of the road scheme and ALCoMA’s operations.

It also welcomed the AfDB’s ongoing discussions to mobilise catalytic capital of US$500mn and other resources from across the region.

“These resources will be complemented by other bank group financial instruments, including viability gap financing; partial risk and credit guarantees for local-currency bonds; non-sovereign operations, and climate finance through the Global Center on Adaptation partnership (GCA),” an AfDB statement read.

GCA brings together governments, banks and private sector to accelerate climate adaptation projects and mobilise financing.

The AfDB has already provided US$25mn in technical assistance for the project’s preparatory phase.

With feasibility studies completed, theproject now enters its investment phase, paving the way for the construction of a six-lane transnational motorway.

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HD Construction Equipment launches a new 20-ton DEVELON excavator to strengthen its Middle East and Africa market presence. (Image source: HD Construction Equipment)

HD Construction Equipment is accelerating its expansion across the Middle East and Africa by introducing a new 20-ton class DEVELON excavator tailored for emerging market requirements

Developed at its Indian production facility, the machine combines competitive pricing with enhanced performance and durability, enabling the company to address evolving customer demands while strengthening its position in highly competitive markets.

HD Construction Equipment recently hosted a launch event for the new excavator at its production subsidiary in Pune, India, with participation from major dealers representing key Middle Eastern markets, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Oman.

The newly unveiled 20-ton class excavator has been developed to meet the requirements of emerging markets, where this equipment category remains a major segment of demand. Designed with price-sensitive customers in mind, the model delivers cost competitiveness through an efficient production approach and economies of scale achieved at the company’s Indian manufacturing facility.

While focusing on affordability, HD Construction Equipment has also enhanced the machine’s functionality and durability to ensure reliable operation in local working environments. The company expects the new excavator to compete with cost-focused solutions being introduced by global construction equipment manufacturers seeking to expand their presence in emerging economies.

During the launch event, HD Construction Equipment demonstrated the capabilities of the new model while showcasing the production strength and quality standards of its Indian plant to Middle Eastern dealers. The facility has recently expanded its annual production capacity to 9,000 units to support increasing demand from international markets.

The Indian plant currently manufactures Hyundai-branded equipment and has also begun producing DEVELON machines as part of HD Construction Equipment’s strategy to strengthen its global manufacturing network. The company aims to establish an annual production capacity of 12,000 units at the facility by 2030, further positioning India as a key export hub.

According to UK-based construction equipment research firm Off-Highway Research, the excavator market across the Middle East and Africa is expected to maintain steady growth, reaching approximately 23,000 units by 2030. This projected expansion presents new opportunities for manufacturers offering equipment suited to regional operating conditions and customer requirements.

A representative from HD Construction Equipment stated, "The 20-ton class DEVELON excavator will compete not only on simple cost-effectiveness but as a 'value-for-money' product, based on core performance optimised for the field, robust quality, and differentiated services. Using our Indian plant—which has grown into a global export hub—as a base, we will expand our sales channels in fiercely competitive emerging markets."

Strong African demand for compact excavators (Image source: Wacker Neuson)

Wacker Neuson says demand for compact excavators is increasing across Africa as industries seek versatile, efficient and sustainable equipment capable of operating in diverse and challenging environments

According to Glenn Theron, Wacker Neuson sales manager, compact excavators are becoming essential tools for the agriculture, forestry, construction and mining sectors across the whole region.

“We have seen a distinct surge in demand for compact excavators on the African continent which can be attributed to a combination of factors,” he said.

“Foremost is their adaptability, enabling them to support diverse industries with productivity and sustainability.”

The company attributes the growth to rising infrastructure development, mechanised agriculture, sustainable resource extraction and the need for efficient machinery in applications where larger equipment is impractical.

The ability to equip a single machine with multiple attachments is also driving adoption, allowing operators to perform a wide range of tasks while maximising productivity and efficiency.

Wacker Neuson’s compact excavators can be fitted with attachments including buckets, augers, grapples, hydraulic breakers, winches and brush mulchers, supporting applications ranging from trenching and land preparation to materials handling and vegetation clearing.

“This synergy of innovations firmly position our excavators as indispensable multitool carriers across South and sub-Saharan Africa’s agriculture, forestry, construction and mining sectors,” Theron said.

The company also highlighted the role of sustainability in its product strategy, particularly through its electric EZ17e excavator.

“Tailored for urban, indoor, and underground mining projects where environmental and safety regulations are stringent, the future-oriented EZ17e aligns with the global shift toward sustainable practices, ensuring compliance with evolving standards across our four focus sectors,” said Theron.

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Tuboshu machines at WAMPEX 2026 in Accra (Image source: HMD Ghana, Tuboshu)

HMD Ghana Ltd. has reported strong interest following the debut of its ForLife heavy equipment protection programme at WAMPEX 2026 in Accra, Ghana

The programme — the first lifetime heavy equipment protection solution of its kind, available upon request alongside any new Tuboshu machine purchase through HMD and other dealers — drew interest from fleet managers, construction executives and mining professionals, HMD Ghana said in a statement.

First enrolments were completed at the exhibition stand, with a “robust pipeline” of qualified leads established, the statement noted.

The launch of ForLife formed part of HMD's broader market presence at WAMPEX 2026, reinforcing its established three-model access proposition — outright purchase, flexible equipment rental, and rent-to-own — applicable across HMD's full portfolio of heavy equipment brands, including Tuboshu.

As well as the HMD and Tuboshu exhibition stand, an outdoor display drew crowds for live Tuboshu machines, including the TG220 motor grader, the TF30D diesel forklift and the TTL12E solar tower light.

“Together, the three machines embodied Tuboshu's commitment to purpose-built equipment for demanding African operating conditions,” the HMD Ghana statement noted.

“The conversations at WAMPEX were not exploratory. They were operational,” it added.

“Visitors understood the proposition immediately and wanted to act on it. The response confirmed that the equipment sector has been waiting for something like this.”

Industry feedback centred on three themes, it added: the clarity and simplicity of the pay-per-hour ForLife model, the commercial relief of transferring breakdown risk away from the machine owner, and the flexibility of three distinct routes to machine access — purchase, rental, and rent-to-own — under one roof.

Used equipment operators and resellers noted the value of ForLife's transferability on resale, identifying it as a meaningful differentiator in the secondary market, HMD Ghana noted.

“ForLife is live and available, giving machine owners the certainty they have been asking for without delay or complication. The industry made its appetite for change clear in Accra, and HMD and Tuboshu are moving forward with a single objective: to turn every promise made on the stand into measurable value on the job site.”

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