According to the Federal Government, the four toll gates on the 260-kilometer Abuja-Keffi-Makurdi highway complied with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission’s (ICRC) specifications.
In response to inquiries about tolls in Abuja, Works Minister David Umahi revealed this, stating that the law that established the ICRC specified the minimum and maximum standards for tolling highways under concession.
Umahi emphasized that the toll gates were necessary for the maintenance and sustainability of the highway, ensuring that users received value for their money. He also mentioned that the toll gates would help generate revenue for further infrastructure development in the country.
According to reports, Umahi was responding to a query about commuters’ worries about the quantity of tolls on the recently constructed motorway.
Commuters on the route have expressed concerns that having four toll payment locations on a 260-kilometer stretch of road would be onerous, even if the toll gates have not yet been opened.
Nonetheless, they praised the Federal Government for completing the project on schedule.
“That road is 260 kilometers long overall, dualized, so you’re talking about 520 kilometers, and I don’t think we have more than four toll gates on that road,” he stated.
The infrastructure concession regulating commission was established by legislation, and it has both minimum and maximum standards for tolling. Since we are conducting a cashless collection on the road, we have established a committee in addition to adhering to that law.
When we meet with the committee members next week, they will let us know how to proceed because many people lack basic literacy skills when it comes to ICT.
They can find it challenging to comprehend our discussion of electronic toll payment. Therefore, we are making an effort to make sure that we include these individuals.
Remember how the minister established the committee to develop a cashless tolling system on the road on October 17?
Umahi claims that the Highway Development and Management Initiative’s cashless tolling system is a strategic initiative designed to support a robust and sustainable transportation environment.
Designing the cashless system, setting up relief stops with basic amenities like pharmacies, supermarkets, and security outposts, and guaranteeing increased highway security were among the committee’s responsibilities.
“Security personnel will be able to respond within 10 minutes of any incident along the route,” Umahi had emphasized.
Reports states that the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction–Finance (EPC+F) model was used to acquire the Abuja-Keffi-Markurdi road project.
China Exim Bank provided up to 85% of the financing for the road, which was built by China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC), with the federal government covering the remaining 15%.
China Exim Bank supplied 85% (460.8 million dollars) of the project’s capital in the form of Preferential Export Buyer’s Credit, with CHEC managing the $542 million project.
According to a clause in the deal, the business will toll the road and subsequently collect the proceeds so that the government may repay the project’s loan portion.
The project aimed to improve transportation infrastructure and boost economic development in Nigeria. The EPC+F model allowed for efficient project management and financing.
