The Federal Government has announced plans to introduce a cashless tolling system on the Abuja-Keffi expressway.
Senator David Umahi, Minister of Works, made the announcement on Thursday during the inauguration of a committee overseeing the project and the dualization of the Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi Road.
The cashless tolling system is part of the Highway Development and Management Initiative, aimed at building a sustainable transportation system. Umahi emphasized that this is a key aspect of President Bola Tinubu’s vision for improved infrastructure and road development.
He recalled that the Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi road was financed with 85% funding from China Exim Bank, with the federal government contributing 15%. As stated by the agreement, tolls would be collected to repay the loan for the road project.
Umahi expressed appreciation for President Tinubu’s economic recovery plans and urged the committee to develop a comprehensive strategy for implementing the cashless tolling system.
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“We must also, as part of the assignment, develop relief stations. Relief stations are what you see in overseas’ expressways, where you have a lot of stations where you have a supermarket, you have a small clinic, you have also security outfits, and a number of other facilities, including parks, wheel lorries, and vehicles park, and tow vans.
“The idea of Mr. President is that we should have a maximum of 10 minutes of response time on our highways, meaning that in the full development of this route, part of the assignment will be how we can install CCTV cameras, and also have solar light all through the entire route of the project.
“And so, we will be able to put security on our roads, and then we have a station at the relief centre, where they will stay and watch the vehicles, so that within 10 minutes of any incident along the route, the security people will be able to be there – within 10 minutes response time. This is the idea of Mr. President, and for our major highways.”
The committee is tasked with developing an effective implementation plan, proposing solutions for toll collection challenges, and ensuring that relief stations and proper facilities are integrated along the road corridors.
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