Nigerian government defends plan for four toll gates on Abuja-Keffi-Makurdi expressway

Minister of Works David Umahi has clarified that the four toll gates on the 260km Abuja-Keffi-Makurdi expressway meet the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission’s (ICRC) requirements.

The assurance comes after commuters expressed concerns about the number of tolls on the newly completed expressway.

Umahi explained that the law governing ICRC sets specific guidelines for tolling concession roads, including minimum and maximum requirements.

He was responding to queries in Abuja, addressing the worries of commuters who felt the toll gates were excessive.

The move is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to develop and manage the country’s highway infrastructure efficiently.

While the toll gates are yet to be operational, commuters along the route have expressed worries over four points for payment of tolls on the 260km road.

“The total length of that road is 260 kilometres, and it is dualised, which means you are talking about 520 kilometers, and I don’t think that we have more than four toll gates on that road.

“There is a law establishing an infrastructure concession regulatory commission, and they have the minimum requirements and maximum requirements for tolling.

“We have followed that law and we have also set up a committee because we are doing a cashless collection on the road.

“The committee members are meeting with us next week, and they will tell us how to go about that because there are a lot of people who do not know how to read and write when it comes to ICT.

“It may be difficult for them to understand what we are talking about, in terms of electronic payment of tolls.

“So, we are trying to ensure that we carry such people along,” the minister explained.