By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) on Tuesday flagged off toll operations on the nine highways concessioned under the Highways Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) Phase 1 with the 127.2 kilometres (kms) Abuja-Keffi-Akqanga-Lafia-Makurdi corridor.
While doing so, Minister of Works Engr. David Umahi noted that the road corridor is a vital route in Nigeria, serving as an essential highway for both the economic and social activities of the central and northern regions of the country.
Umahi who was represented by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, said the effective maintenance and further development of the road will continue to play a significant role in the nation’s development, thus enhancing the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians.
He explained that the federal government rehabilitated and upgraded the roads through the preferential credit loan from China Exim Bank, and that the loan agreement provided, among other things, that upon completion, the road would be tolled, operated, and maintained by a private party, while the revenue collected from the operation shall be preferentially used for the loan repayment to the China Ex-Im Bank.
“Consequently, the Ministry, under the previous administration in 2023, executed a 25-year toll of wages and maintained concession agreement with Messrs China Harbour Operations and Maintenance Company Limited, in partnership with Messrs Katamaran Nigeria Limited, under the Highways Development and Management Initiative Phase I,” he said, adding that all nine corridors across the 6 geopolitical zones of the country under the phase 1 would follow suit as time goes on.
He said the toll order fee for the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi Highway has been gazetted as follows “Saloon cars would be tolled for N500, SUVs/Jeeps N800, minibuses N1000, and multi-axle vehicles N1600,”.
The Minister however said frequent road users, like the commercial light vehicles I defined under the Federal Highways Act, would enjoy a 50% discount, ” pedal vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles, and other modes of two- or three-wheel transport used by mainly disadvantaged populations would be offered a 100% discount”.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, OLufunsho, olusesan, Adebiyi, called on all well-meaning Nigerians to support the re-introduction of tolling as part of Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the revitalisation of Road Infrastructure across the country.
According to their speeches made available to the SUMMIT POST, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, represented by his
Deputy, Emmanuel Akabe, called for public enlightenment on the toll fees.