N1600 Toll-gate Fees are Enforced by the Federal Government Along the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi Highway.

The Federal Government has established toll fees ranging from N500 to N1,600 for vehicles traveling along the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi Highway. This announcement was made by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, during the inauguration of the Garaku Toll Plaza on Tuesday. The toll rates vary based on the type of vehicle, while certain categories, including security vehicles, diplomatic cars, ambulances, and tricycles, are exempt from these charges. Mr. Umahi was represented by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo. He noted that the previous administration had entered into a 25-year concession agreement with MS China Harbour Operations and Maintenance Company in 2023, which included tolling provisions. The minister elaborated that the roads were rehabilitated and upgraded through a preferential credit loan from China Exim Bank. It was agreed that a private entity would manage the tolling and maintenance of the road, with the revenue generated being utilized to repay the loan. “The Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi project is the first of nine corridors being concessioned under the Highways Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) Phase 1 to begin operations,” Goronyo stated, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria. He added, “In the upcoming months, the Federal Government will proceed with the launch and operationalization of the remaining corridors across the six geopolitical zones of the country. “This initiative marks a significant advancement in Nigeria's infrastructure development, enabling the government to address poor road conditions,” he remarked. The minister emphasized that toll collection would provide essential revenue for the maintenance and expansion of President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Road Agenda. He affirmed the Tinubu administration's dedication to establishing a comprehensive and interconnected infrastructure system to foster socio-economic development. The toll fee structure for the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafayette-Makurdi Federal Highway has been established as follows: cars will incur a fee of N500; SUVs will be charged N800; minibuses will pay N1000, while multi-axle vehicles, trucks, and buses will face a toll of N1600. Moreover, frequent users of the road, specifically commercial light vehicles as defined by the Federal Highways Act, will benefit from a 50 percent reduction in toll fees. Additionally, authorized vehicles, pedal-powered vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles, and other two or three-wheeled transport modes primarily utilized by economically disadvantaged groups will receive a full exemption from toll charges.