By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has explained why there are four toll gates along the 260km Abuja-Keffi-Makurdi expressway.
Umahi, on Wednesday, said the four toll gates conform with the requirements of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC.
He noted that the law establishing ICRC prescribes the minimum and maximum requirements for tolling of roads on concession.
The minister said this while reacting to a question on concerns raised by some commuters on the number of tolls on the newly delivered expressway.
Although the toll gates are yet to be operational, commuters along the route have raised concerns that four points for payment of tolls on a 260km road will be burdensome.
The commuters, however, commended the federal government for the timely delivery of the project.
“The total length of that road is 260 kilometres, and it is dualised, which means you are talking about 520 kilometers, and I don’t think that we have more than four toll gates on that road.
“There is a law establishing an infrastructure concession regulatory commission, and they have the minimum requirements and maximum requirements for tolling.
“We have followed that law and we have also set up a committee because we are doing a cashless collection on the road.
“The committee members are meeting with us next week, and they will tell us how to go about that because there are a lot of people who do not know how to read and write when it comes to ICT.
“It may be difficult for them to understand what we are talking about, in terms of electronic payment of tolls.
“So, we are trying to ensure that we carry such people along,” the minister explained.
It would be recalled that the Minister had on October 17, inaugurated the committee on the implementation of a cashless tolling system on the road.
He said the cashless tolling system is a strategic programme under the Highway Development and Management Initiative aimed at promoting a strong and sustainable transportation ecosystem.
The committee’s tasks included designing the cashless system, establishing relief stations with essential services such as supermarkets, clinics, and security outposts, and ensuring improved security along the highway.
