The Federal Government has started tolling on the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi road as part of the plan to repay a $460.8 million loan from China Exim Bank.
The loan was used to rehabilitate and upgrade the 227.2km road, a major route connecting the central and northern zones of Nigeria.
Toll Rates and Exemptions
With tolling now in place, motorists on the route will pay from N500 for saloon cars to N1,600 for multi-axle vehicles.
But security agencies, including the police and military, are exempted to enable them carry out their duties.
The toll gates have been sited at four points—Keffi, Akwanga, Lafia and Makurdi – to make revenue collection smooth.
Government’s Commitment
At the launch of the toll operation at Garaku Toll Station in Nasarawa State, Minister of Works, David Umahi, said government is committed to sustainable road maintenance and long-term infrastructure funding.
Represented by the Minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Muhammad Goronyo, he said beyond repaying the loan, the revenue from tolling would also be used to maintain other federal roads across the country.
According to Umahi, the $460.8 million loan covered 85% of the road’s total rehabilitation cost of $542 million.
As part of the agreement with China Exim Bank, tolling was a condition for the loan to ensure that the generated revenue would be used for loan repayment and road maintenance.
“This is a big milestone in our journey to self-sustaining infrastructure development,” Umahi said.
He described the road as a critical economic passage that plays a key role in trade, mobility and national security.
25-Year Concession Agreement
The tolling system is based on a 25-year Operate and Maintain concession agreement signed in 2023 between the Federal Government and Messrs China Harbour Operations and Maintenance Company Limited in partnership with Messrs Catamaran Nigeria Limited.
This will ensure the road is well maintained and funds generated for long term maintenance.
Under the new toll regime, the charges are as follows: saloon cars N500, SUVs and jeeps N800, minibuses N1,000 and multi-axle vehicles N1,600.
Frequent users, commercial transport operators will get 50% discount. In consideration of the economic realities faced by disadvantaged groups, tricycles, pedal vehicles and motorcycles are exempted from toll payments.
Calls for Cooperation
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, represented by his deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for completing the road project.
He urged Nigerians to support the tolling initiative, saying it’s for the nation’s road infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Folorunsho Adebiyi, stated that road network is critical to Nigeria.
He said over 99% of Nigerians use road transport, as air travel is out of reach for most citizens.
“The fact is less than 1% of Nigerians travel by air. This puts a lot of pressure on our roads and with increasing traffic volume, we must generate enough revenue to maintain them,” Adebiyi said.
The tolling of Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi road is a shift towards self sustained infrastructure management in Nigeria. While motorists will pay more, the government said this is necessary to maintain the country’s road and for long term benefits.t