THE FEDERAL Government has imposed tolls of N500 to N1,600 on motorists plying the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi dual carriageway.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Garaku Toll Plaza axis of the road.
The government stated that tolls range from N500 to N1,600, depending on the kind of vehicle. The government however exempted security vehicles, diplomatic cars, ambulances and tricycles from paying the fees.
Mr Umahi was represented by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo.
He recalled that the federal government under the previous administration in 2023, executed a 25-year toll of rates concession agreement with MS China Harbour Operations and Maintenance Company.
The minister said that the government rehabilitated and upgraded the roads through the preferential credit loan from China Exim Bank.
He explained that it was agreed, among other things, that the road would be tolled, and maintained by a private party and revenue collected would be used to repay the loan.
“The Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi project is the first among the nine corridors being concessioned under the Highways Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) Phase 1 to commence operations,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Goronyo as saying.
He continued: “In the coming months, the federal government will continue with the launching and operationalisation of the remaining ones located across the six geopolitical zones of this country.
“This initiative has opened a new chapter in the history of Nigeria, as it allows the Federal Government to overcome bad routes,” he said.
The minister said the collection of tolls would generate the much-needed revenue for the maintenance and expansion of the Renewed Hope Road Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
He said that the Tinubu administration was committed to building a robust, interconnected infrastructure for socio-economic growth.
“The toll order fee schedule for Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafayette-Makurdi Federal Highway has been designated as follows: cars-N500; SUV Jeep-N800; minibuses N1000, and multi-axle vehicles, trucks and buses N1600.
“However, frequent road users like the commercial light vehicles defined under the Federal Highways Act, will enjoy a 50 per cent discount.
“Authorised vehicles, pedal vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles, and other modes of two- or three-wheel transport used by mainly disadvantaged populations will be offered a 100 per cent discount,” he said.
