Benin and Japan signed, on Friday 9 October 2026, a grant agreement of 10.8 billion CFA francs for the second phase of the Vêdoko interchange in Cotonou. According to the government report published the following day, this contribution brings the overall funding of the structure to 26.228 billion CFA francs.
Two traffic directions funded in two phases
The new contribution covers the east-west overpass and related works. The first phase, currently under way, concerns the west-east direction. The overall amount therefore includes the new grant: adding the 10.8 billion to the announced total a second time would overstate the project's budget.
On the Beninese side, the agreement was signed by Oscar Hugues Lokossou, minister delegate in charge of external resources and debt. Japan was represented by its ambassador, Hideki Uezono, and JICA. The stated objective is to reduce congestion at this junction and ease the movement of people and goods.
A traffic issue for urban activity
For transport operators and businesses, the economic benefit of such a structure depends on the reliability of journeys. A delivery held up at a junction also delays the vehicle's subsequent operations. Smooth flow must therefore be assessed across all access points to the interchange, and on travel times at peak hours.
The signing of the funding marks a stage in the works. For users, the useful follow-up will now focus on progress on the two overpasses and the connecting roads. It is when they enter service that the effect on routes and transport times can be measured.