The Federal Government intends to toll the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and other major roads in the nation once construction and renovation are finished, according to plans revealed by Works Minister Dave Umahi.
This was revealed by Umahi on Thursday in Abuja at an interministerial press conference held in conjunction with events commemorating Nigeria’s 64th anniversary of independence.
“The Lagos-Ibadan expressway is under construction and will soon be toll-free,” he declared.
The minister listed the Second Niger Bridge, the Abuja-Kano road, and the Makurdi 9th Mile as additional routes that would be subject to tolls.
According to Umahi, the private sector has been brought in “to bring in funds, construct these roads, and work with the Ministry of Works and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission to toll these roads.”
The minister announced that the government would begin with the completed Keffi-Makurdi Road and that his ministry has been in communication with the Ministry of Finance regarding a paperless payment system.
In Enugu State, for instance, we are finishing the Lagos-Ibadan section, and we are also working from Abuja to Lagos and Makurdi to the 9th Mile. These roads are going to be tolled. Nevertheless, we are adding confidence to the use of these roads—we are not just tolling them, Umahi added.
