By Aanya Igomu,
The Nigerian Minister of Works, David Umahi, says that the government will only toll roads that have been 100% completed.
He added that the private sector will be involved in the maintenance of roads which some of its sections are beginning to fail.
Mr. David Umahi who stated this during an inspection tour of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway said the road and other major roads in the six geopolitical zones will be tolled after they have been completed.
The Minister was optimistic that the work on the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway will be completed in 14 months starting from February 1, 2025.
He stated that work on sections 1 and 3 of the road has been awarded to Infoquest Nigeria Limited upon approval of the Federal Executive Council.
“The Federal Executive Council on Monday this week graciously awarded the construction of these two sections to Infoquest Nigeria Limited and they have commenced work. So, we are not here essentially to check the volume of work done but we are here on a side meeting to agree on the level of mobilization.”
The Minister added that they were also working on addressing failed sections of the road such as depressions on 38 kilometres of section 1 of the road which stretches from Abuja to Kaduna state.
“We noticed that we have a lot of depression beyond the field shoulders and so the Permanent secretary has been directed on what to do to get separate consultants and they have a team of the contractor, the consultant, and the minister of works to run through the entire stretch of the 38 kilometer and give us what is best to solve this problem of the differential between the field shoulder, outer shoulder, and the adjoining premises,” he said.
While inspecting the Lambata Bride on Abuja-Minna road, the Works Minister said measures have been put in place to deter illegal mining and protect against erosion.
“We have provided a solution to protect the pike caps against illegal sand mining and against erosion there and the solution we provided is going to be adequate,” Umahi stated.
Present at the tour were the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, the Permanent Secretary, and several Directors from the Ministry.