Rehabilitation of Schools and Infrastructure Underway in Anticipation of the Abidjan Metro Line

Construction efforts are ongoing for the rehabilitation of several key facilities impacted by the forthcoming Line 1 of the Abidjan Metro, as monitored by the Action and Resettlement Plan Monitoring Committee (CS-PAR). Work has been taking place since March 2022 at a total of five locations, including four schools and a primary school inspectorate.

To assess progress, a metro demolition team and the National Office for Technical Studies and Development (BNETD) recently visited three primary schools currently undergoing rehabilitation. These included the Public Primary School (EPP) behind Rails d’Abobo, with a new R+2 building under construction (35% completion); the EPP Jacob-Williams in Adjamé, where six buildings are being fully rehabilitated (50% completion); and the EPP Ancien Koumassi, where the construction of a kindergarten building, a school canteen, and other facilities has been completed.

BNETD project manager, Gérard Kouadio Joël, affirmed that work on the remaining projects is progressing well, estimating an overall completion of 35% and 50% for the three sites visited. He further confirmed that construction would soon begin on the two remaining sites: the EPP Zone de Port-Bouët and the primary school inspection in Lokodjoro-Attécoubé.

It’s important to note that this initiative to resettle schools and school infrastructure is fully financed by the State of Côte d’Ivoire. The Ministry of Transport and the Ivorian Railway Asset Management Company (SIPF) are the contracting authorities, with BNETD as the prime contractor and the construction works handled by Emergence Works, Nouvelle RMN, and the GTP company.

The 37.4 km long Line 1 of the Abidjan Metro is making steady progress, with more than 95% of the right-of-way cleared. This project includes a meticulous procedure to identify affected parties, assess their assets, negotiate compensation, and upon agreement, proceed with payment.