The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, on Thursday, inaugurated a committee to oversee the implementation of a cashless tolling system on the Abuja-Keffi Expressway and the dualization of the Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi road.
A statement issued in Abuja by Umahi’s Special Adviser on Media, Barrister Orji Uchenna Orji, said the minister inaugurated the committee in Abuja.
The committee’s terms of reference include developing the framework for a cashless tolling system, recommending relief stations, and proposing solutions to challenges related to toll collection in Nigeria.
Umahi, who spoke extensively about the importance of this initiative, which falls under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI), said it was aimed at building a sustainable transportation system to promote economic growth.
“This is one of the core strategies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to realize the desires of Nigerians for road sector development,” the minister said.
He recalled that the Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi project, executed by China Harbour Ltd., was completed under an EPC + F contract, funded 85% by China Exim Bank with the Federal Government contributing 15% counterpart funding.
According to him, the agreement includes tolling the road to repay the loan.
Umahi commended Tinubu for his strategic economic recovery initiatives and expressed hope that the newly inaugurated committee would craft a comprehensive master plan to realize the economic and social objectives of the HDMI.
He noted that the initiative is designed to attract private-sector investment and improve Nigeria’s road assets.
The minister also called for the establishment of relief stations along expressways, modelled after international standards, which would provide facilities like supermarkets, clinics, security stations, and parks.
“Part of President Tinubu’s vision is to ensure a 10-minute response time to any incident on our highways. We will install CCTV cameras and solar lights along the routes to enhance security and safety,” Sen. Umahi added.
Also speaking, the Head of the PPP Unit at the Ministry of Works, Mrs Ugwu-Chima Nnennaya, noted that the initiative aligns with statutory mandates to attract private sector funding for the development and management of federal roads.
She said, “The HDMI is expected to, among others, bring order, accountability, and profitable entrepreneurship to the operations, management, and maintenance of Federal Highways.
“This is consistent with the provisions of the ICRC Establishment Act 2005; National Policy on Public-Private Partnership (“N4P”); Federal Roads and Bridges Tolling Policy of August 2021 and Federal Highways Act CAP. 135, 1971, which grants the Honourable Minister of Works the power to administer Tolls on Federal Highways.”