By Charlse Ibe
Abuja, Nigeria – February 6, 2025
A new chapter in Nigeria’s road infrastructure management has begun with the official launch of tolling operations on the newly upgraded 227.2km Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi Road. This landmark initiative, executed under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI), represents a shift towards sustainable road maintenance and development in Northcentral Nigeria.
The Abuja-Makurdi highway, a major transportation corridor connecting the central and northern regions of the country, now operates a four-plaza toll system at Keffi, Akwanga, Lafia, and Makurdi. The toll charges vary based on vehicle categories:
- Trucks/Buses/Multi-axle vehicles – ₦1,600 per plaza (₦6,400 total)
- SUVs/Jeeps – ₦800 per plaza (₦3,200 total)
- Light vehicles/Minibuses – ₦1,000 per plaza (₦4,000 total)
- Cars – ₦500 per plaza (₦2,000 total)
However, the federal government has provided a 50% discount for commercial vehicles, acknowledging their essential role in the region’s economy. Additionally, tricycles, motorcycles, and other two- or three-wheeled vehicles—which serve vulnerable populations—are exempt from toll charges. Exemptions also apply to vehicles belonging to police, military, security agencies, and diplomatic missions.
Speaking at the launch event, Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, represented by Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, emphasized the strategic importance of the highway for Nigeria’s economic, social, and security development. He highlighted the road’s role in trade, mobility, and urbanization, stressing the government’s commitment to effective maintenance and future expansion.
Umahi explained that the road’s rehabilitation and upgrade were financed through a preferential credit loan from China Exim Bank. A key condition of this loan required that the highway be tolled and operated by a private concessionaire to generate revenue for repayment. Consequently, a 25-year tolling and maintenance concession was awarded to Messrs China Harbour Operations and Maintenance Company Limited, in partnership with Messrs Katamaran Nigeria Limited, under HDMI Phase I.
The Abuja-Makurdi Road is the first of nine corridors under HDMI Phase I to begin tolling, with the government planning to extend this initiative to other highways across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones in the coming months. This model is expected to generate revenue for road maintenance, reduce government spending on infrastructure, and ensure long-term sustainability of the nation’s highways.
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, urged the federal government to embark on public awareness campaigns regarding the toll fees. He outlined the long-term benefits of tolling, including:
- Improved security measures along the highway
- Longer vehicle lifespan due to better road conditions
- Reduced accident rates
- Economic growth, as businesses are likely to spring up around the toll plazas
Akabe also called for the construction of the Doma-Nasarawa-Abuja Road, which would help reduce traffic congestion on the Lafia-Abuja highway.
Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh, Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), hailed the project as a testament to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to infrastructure development. Represented by Mr. Shehu Danmusa, Director of Transport Infrastructure, Ewalefoh confirmed that the initiative aligns with the ICRC Act, ensuring transparency and efficiency in public-private partnerships (PPP).
He encouraged public cooperation and hinted at more PPP projects in the pipeline, extending beyond roads to rail, ports, and energy infrastructure.
The launch of tolling operations on the Abuja-Makurdi highway marks a pivotal shift in Nigeria’s road management system. By adopting modern tolling mechanisms, the government aims to ensure better-maintained roads, enhanced connectivity, and economic growth for the millions who rely on the corridor daily.
With more PPP-backed infrastructure projects on the horizon, the Abuja-Makurdi tolling system serves as a blueprint for the future of sustainable highway management in Nigeria.
