The federal government has officially launched cashless tolling operations along the 227.2km Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi Road, which was constructed under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).
As a result, toll fees for various vehicles have been set as follows:
The road has four toll stations located in Keffi, Akwanga, Lafia, and Makurdi.
Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, announced that commercial vehicles will receive a 50% discount on toll fees. Additionally, tricycles, motorcycles, and other two- or three-wheel transport modes will be exempted from paying. Law enforcement and military vehicles, as well as diplomatic missions, will also be toll-free.
Umahi emphasized the road’s importance as a key route for the economic and social activities of Nigeria’s central and northern regions, contributing to trade, mobility, national security, and infrastructure growth. He also explained that the road was rehabilitated through a preferential loan from China Exim Bank, with the toll revenues allocated to repay the loan.
The Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi road is the first of nine corridors to be concessioned under the HDMI Phase I. In the coming months, other corridors across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones will also begin toll operations.
Umahi noted that tolling is crucial for the maintenance and extension of the nation’s road infrastructure. The collected funds will support the long-term sustainability and development of Nigeria’s transport system, benefiting both urban and rural areas.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, represented by Deputy Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, urged for public education about the toll system. He highlighted the potential benefits, such as improved security, longer vehicle lifespans, fewer accidents, and local economic growth due to new businesses opening at toll plazas.
Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh, Director General of the ICRC, emphasized that the project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving Nigeria’s infrastructure. He urged Nigerians to support this initiative and other upcoming public-private partnership (PPP) projects beyond roads.
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