The Federal Government has said that the four toll gate along the 260km Abuja-Keffi-Makurdi expressway is in conformity with the requirements of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, while responding to questions on the tolls in Abuja, explained that the law establishing ICRC prescribes the minimum and maximum requirements for tolling of roads on concession.
According to reports Umahi was 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, the commuters along the route have raised concerns that four points for payment of tolls on a 260km stress of road will be burdensome.
They, 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 kilometres, and I don’t think that we have more than four toll gates on that road.
“There is a law establishing 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, in terms of electronics payment of tolls.
Newsmen recalled that the minister on Oct. 17, inaugurated the committee on the implementation of cashless tolling system on the road.
According to Umahi, cashless tolling system is a strategic programme under the Highway Development and Management Initiative aimed at promoting strong and sustainable transportation ecosystem.
