By Lucy Omakpo
Motorist plying the ever busy Keffi, Akwanga, Lafia, Makurdi express road have commended the FG for ensuring seamless operations at the toll plaza as against the initial hicuup the project experienced shortly after flag off.
Recall that earlier in Febuary this year the Federal government through the works ministry announced the commencement of tolling activities on federal roads across the country with commencement of toll operations on the 227.2km Abuja-Kaffi-Akwanga- Lafia-Makurdi Road Corridor
Speaking at the flag off of tolling which took place at Garaku toll gate on the sprawling brand new Abuja, Lafia Makurdi expressway earlier in Febuary this year, the minister of state Works, Bello Goronyo stated that the decision of the federal government to toll the road was primarily two prungs. One was to ensure that funds are available to make the road remains in tenable condition all year round and secondly to generate funds for repayment of the loan facility secured for the expansion and reconstruction of the road in line with the Federal Government agreement in rehabilitating and upgrading the road through a Preferential Credit Loan from China Exim Bank.
The Loan Agreement provided amongst others, that upon completion, the road will be tolled, operated, and maintained by a Private Party. This clause in the agreement is to ensure transparency and accountability.
Consewuently the Federal Ministry of Works executed a Concession Agreement with Ms China Habour Operation and Maintenance Company Ltd (CHOMC) on 26th May, 2023 for the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of the 227.2km. Abuja Keffl-Akwanga-Lafia Makurdi Rood Corridor for a twenty five (25) year period, as part of the twelve pilot Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) Road Projects, which has the approval of the Federal Executive Council, FEC.
A recent visit to the toll plaza by our correspondent shows that operations are going on seamlessly as the concessionaire,
China Habour Operation and Maintenance Company Ltd, has put modalities in place to make toll payment easy for motorists. Motorists plying the route do their toll payment through an electronic card payment system that ensures transparency and ease of payment for all classes of vehicles as boldly displayed on the plaza.
Speaking with our correspondent. A commercial driver, Mr Fidelis Aku, commended the Federal Government and the operators of the toll gate for their efficiency and innovation. According to him many of the commercial drivers olying Abuja to Markudi are happy with the development irrespective of the introduction of toll fees as long as a part of the fund was deployed for the maintenace of the road. ” l have been plying this road for over a decade as a commercial driver, i know what this road use to be like and what it is today. It is a huge relief and i must thank the government. Before now the road was in very bad state. It was single lane and even the single lane was full of pot holes which led to a lot of accidents on the road. There was also this dangerous portion around “Gidan Wire”, it was a death trap. The road was snaky with huge with deep gorges on both sides! Its a miracle that the construction company, China Harbor, CHEC, was able to overcome the challenges and construct this beautiful road we are seeing today. The deep gorges seems to have disappeared and and all sections of the road have been propwrly align to remove the snaky and dangerous turns”
Also speaking with our correspondent, Mr. Aliyu Kwande, also a commercial driver said, with the realigning and reconstruction of the road he now finds it easy to make at least two trips in a day between Abuja and Makurdi, whereas in the past he could only make a single trip. This he said has boosted his revenue.
” Being able to go to Makurdi twice in a day has greatly improved my revenue, furthermore my vehicle does not visit the mechanic frequently like it used to because the condition of the road is now better than before. The benefit drivers derive from having this road rehabilitated and expanded far outweighs the token we have to pay at the toll gate. I would like to commend the federal government for this initiative and also suggests that this model be extended to another parts of the country, there is no way we expert the FG to maintain this road without road tax, this is the standard globally, if we want good road, we should be able to pay a token to ensure that the road is constantly in good shape and like i said i don’t have to go to the mechanic always as a result of frequent breakdown of my vehicle. The maintenance cost of my vehicle has significantly reduced. Besides the journey from Abuja to Markudi that use to take about seven hours has reduced to less than four hours. This has been a game changer for me and many others like me.
I believe the model should be extended to other roads across the country. Secure a loan facility build the road then toll to maintain the road and also repay the loan. This to me is a workable model that would ensure that we have good roads across the country.
Also speaking with our correspondent, one of the staff of the concession company China Habour Operation and Maintenance Company Ltd, who didn’t want his name in print because he is not authorised to speak to the press, said the company is operating under the guidance and supervision of the ministry of Works and that tolls are applied as gazetted by the federal government. Saloon cars – N500, Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and Jeeps– N800, Minibuses – N1,000, Multi-axle vehicles – N1,600.
He also revealed that frequent users, such as commercial vehicles classified under the Federal Highway Act, receive a 50% discount. Additionally, tricycles, pedal vehicles, motorcycles, and other two- or three-wheeled modes of transport primarily used by disadvantaged populations are exempted from toll charges. ” there were initial hicupp on commencement but all that has been sorted out now and our operation is running smoothly”, he said
The Abuja, Lafia Makurdi road corridor
is a vital infrastructure route in Nigeria, serving as an essential highway for both the economic and social activities of the central and northern regions of the country.
The Road Corridor is crucial for the economic, social, and strategic development of Nigeria. It serves as a key artery for trade, mobility, and national security while contributing to the growth of infrastructure, urbanization, and national cohesion. Hence observers believe that the effective maintenance and further development of the corridor will continue to play a significant role in the nation’s economy and in enhancing the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians who uses the road corridor.
