State Government Urges FG to Construct Doma-Abuja Road

The Nasarawa State Government has appealed to the Federal Government to construct the road linking Doma to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This appeal was made by Deputy Governor Dr. Emmanuel Akabe during the official inauguration of tolling operations on the 227.2km Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi Express Way at the Garaku Toll Station.

According to Dr. Akabe, the construction of the Doma-Abuja road will ease the pressure on the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi Express Way, which is currently being used by motorists. He commended former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their foresight and infrastructural drive, noting that the inauguration of the expressway will have a multiplier effect on the state’s economy.

The Minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Muhammad Goronyo, described the completion of the road project under the Public Private Partnership as a landmark achievement. He announced the toll fees for different categories of vehicles, ranging from ₦500 for small vehicles to ₦1,600 for trucks, buses, and multi-axle vehicles.

The minister assured that the partnership with the China Harbour Engineering Company Nigeria Limited and the China Export and Import, EXIM Bank will be sustained to unlock significant economic potentials. He directed the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry to look into the appeal made by the Deputy Governor regarding the Doma to Abuja road for onward action.

The Operations and Maintenance Concessionaires, China Harbour Operation and Maintenance Company, and its Tolling Partner, Catamaran Project Limited, expressed their readiness to effectively utilize the revenues generated from the tolling operations. They emphasized the importance of cooperation from stakeholders and citizens for a seamless exercise that will lead to the loan repayment to the China EXIM Bank.