Television Nigerian

A new tolling system has been implemented at the Garaku Toll Station in Nasarawa State by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
As a result, drivers using the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi Highway now have to pay tolls that range from ₦500 for regular automobiles to ₦1,600 for vehicles with more than one axle.
At yesterday’s formal tolling system launch, Works Minister David Umahi announced that the money raised from the project will go toward maintaining federal roads throughout the nation.
Recall that in order to finance the 227.2 km road project, China Eximbank offered a loan of $460.8 million.

According to Umahi, who was represented by Bello Muhammad Goronyo, the Minister of State for Works, the federal government used a China Exim Bank Preferential Credit Loan to improve and repair the road.

As we formally begin toll operations on our federal roads, starting with the 227.2km Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi Road Corridor, Umahi stated, “I stand before you today on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria with great pride and optimism.”

As you are aware, the Road Corridor is an important piece of infrastructure in Nigeria that serves as a highway for the social and economic life of the country’s northern and central regions.

The Road Corridor is essential to Nigeria’s strategic, social, and economic growth. In addition to promoting infrastructure development, urbanization, and national cohesion, it is a vital conduit for trade, transportation, and national security.

Recall that the road was repaired and restored by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) using a China Exim Bank preferential credit loan.

He stated that the implementation of the tolling system is a crucial step in achieving a more effective, sustainable, and well-kept road transportation system in the nation.

We’re starting a journey today to make sure that our infrastructure is protected for the benefit of both the current and upcoming generations.

He declared, “The toll collection will generate much-needed revenue for the maintenance and expansion of our roads.”

The Toll Order/Fee Schedule for the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi Federal Highway has been gazetted as follows, he added. Multi-axle vehicles would cost ₦1,600, minibuses ₦1000, SUVs/jeeps ₦800, and saloon cars ₦500.

“On the other hand, regular users of the road, such as commercial light vehicles as defined by the Federal Highway Act, would receive a 50% discount.”

At the event, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was thanked by Abdullahi Sule, the governor of Nasarawa State, through his deputy, Emmanuel Akabe, for the successful completion of the road project.

Additionally, he called for Nigerians to work together to make sure the project was a success.

Note that certain vital service vehicles, police cars, and military vehicles are exempt from paying tolls for the use of the route.

The road was reportedly completed shortly before former President Muhammadu Buhari left office in 2023, having started construction in 2018 under his direction.

The National Security Adviser, NSA, Malam Nuhu Ribadu has written a politician and leader of Northern Star, Hajia Naja’atu Muhammad, over a malicious statement in a Tiktok video shared across all social media platforms

In the Tiktok video, Hajia Muhammad accused the NSA of serving in President Bola Tinubu’s government, whom he castigated when he was the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

In a letter, through his lawyer, Dr Ahmed Raji, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, the NSA said publicly or privately, he has never maintained such viewpoint.

He said the damage that had been done as a result of the Tiktok video was unquantifiable.

In the letter dated February 4,2025 and signed by Dr. Raji, reads, “Clearly, in the text of your recording [reproduced and translated above] you stated that when our client served as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes, [EFCC] he allegedly named President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, alongside Sen. George Akume and Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu [all former Governors, and in that order] as the governors in Nigeria who stole the most from public treasury.

“You also stated that today, our client who once held the above odious view about President Tinubu has turned around to be his staunchest defender; especially, with regard to what you stated to be the government’s agenda to silence voices of dissent to the government, citing the alleged arrest of a certain Prof. Usman Yusuf as an example.

“You also stated that our client’s alleged attitudinal change towards President Tinubu means that he has either become a liar or that he lied when he allegedly described President Tinubu, Sen. Akume, Sen. Kalu and other governors as thieves.

“Privately or publicly, our client has never expressed the above viewpoint about President Tinubu and/or Senators George Akume and Orji Uzor Kalu, which you attributed to him.

“In fact, our client has never held such a viewpoint about the President; hence, it came as a complete surprise to him when his attention was drawn to the aforesaid publication by you against him.

“In the foregoing premise, our client hereby challenges you to provide evidence of your allegations therein against him; which have cast him as double-faced, duplicitous and deceitful in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society.

“Although masked as a clarion call to the North to rise up to your perceived injustice against the North by the government of the day, your publication is also inciteful of violence towards our client. Given this far-reaching ramification of your publication, our client will not sit back and watch his hard-eamed reputation and goodwill destroyed by your malicious decision to not only lay false allegations against him, but also, to cause the same to be published for the world’s attention.

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“Your intention to bring our client to public ridicule, opprobrium, scorn and shame etc., is laid bare when it is considered that you deliberately caused same to be published on social media, where it has since gone viral.

“Surely, the damage occasioned to our client by your deliberate but ill-advised action is unquantifiable. However, our client will be assuaged if you retract the said publication and tender an unreserved public apology to him in at least 5 [five] national daily newspapers within 7 [seven] days of receipt of this letter. If not, we have our client’s further instructions to seek redress against you in a court of law where exemplary damages will be claimed against you. Kindly be advised.”