Nigeria is planning to change many highways to tolled routes – image courtesy of © Butenkow, Dreamstime.com
The Nigerian Government intends to offer more Federal Highway stretches out under concession packages to bidders. At present 12 highway stretches are being offered for concession packages, but further highways will also be offered in the future.
In all Nigeria’s Federal Highway network extends 35,000km with the 12 stretches being offered totalling just 1,963km. However, highway stretches totalling around 3,050km will also be offered as tolled concessions under the plans.
Tolling will only be extended to Nigeria’s highway sections with two lanes in either direction or to bridges with two lanes in either direction under the plans. Roads that will be offered under concessions include the links connecting Abuka with Lokoja, Enugu and Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Kano, Onitsha with Aba and Lagos with Badagry. Maintenance work will be needed for some of the routes.
Meanwhile, plans are now moving ahead with the planned upgrade of the Ikot Ekpene-Itu-Odukpani route. This work is expected to cost US$193.6 million. Once the work is complete the road will feature two lanes in either direction. Whether the stretch will be considered for tolling in the future has not been revealed.
