Motorists to Pay New Toll Rates on Abuja-Makurdi Road
Motorists plying the 227.2km Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi highway will now pay toll fees ranging from ₦2,000 to ₦6,400, following the official launch of cashless tolling operations on Tuesday by the Federal Government.
The tolling system, part of the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) road project, has four toll stations located at Keffi, Akwanga, Lafia, and Makurdi Plazas. The toll rates are as follows: ₦6,400 for trucks, ₦4,000 for SUVs and Jeeps, ₦3,200 for light vehicles and minibuses, and ₦2,000 for cars. Vehicles will be tolled four times along the entire stretch of the highway.
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, emphasized the importance of the road, which serves as a major route for both economic and social activities across central and northern Nigeria. Commercial vehicles will receive a 50% discount, while motorcycles, tricycles, and other two- or three-wheel vehicles are exempt from toll fees. Police, military, security, and diplomatic vehicles will also not be charged.
Umahi, represented by the Minister of State for Works, Barr. Bello Goronyo, explained that the highway was rehabilitated with a preferential credit loan from China Exim Bank. The loan agreement stipulated that the road would be tolled, operated, and maintained by a private company, with the revenue generated directed toward loan repayment.
The Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi highway is the first of nine corridors being concessioned under the HDMI Phase I. The government plans to launch toll operations on the remaining corridors in the coming months, spanning all six geopolitical zones of the country.
Umahi also highlighted the broader benefits of the initiative, including better road maintenance, improved transport efficiency, and job creation. He stressed that tolling will generate the revenue needed for road upkeep, ensuring the infrastructure’s sustainability for future generations.
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, called for public awareness campaigns to ensure that citizens understand the benefits of the toll system. Akabe noted that improved road conditions would boost security, reduce accidents, and foster economic growth along the toll routes.
