The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has increased the toll payable on the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport road in Abuja by 50 per cent. The increase takes effect from today (Monday).
This, it was learnt on Sunday, came after FAAN had installed electronic tracking equipment at the main entrance of the airport to boost security.
The Director, Commercial and Business Development, FAAN, Dr. Adeniyi Balogun, said the device would track all incoming and outgoing vehicles at both the local and international terminals of the airport.
He said, “With the recent and new security challenges we are facing in the country, it is pertinent for us to put in place this equipment that will track all vehicles plying this route. This is to ensure the security of lives and property of Nigerians having one form of business or the other to do at the airport.
“It is obvious that FAAN has spent a lot of money to put in place this device. What we are doing right now is also to raise the amount of money paid at the toll gate. Before now, we were charging between N100 and N200, depending on the type of vehicle, but starting from Monday, May 6, we will be collecting between N200 and N300 per vehicle.”
Balogun said apart from securing the airport, the automated gate could generate about N50m for the organisation on a monthly basis.
He said the former rate was fixed in 2001, stressing that the increase in toll was necessary.
Last week, The PUNCH had reported that the Federal Government planned to use the digital toll gates at the Abuja airport as another means of addressing security threats to air travel.
It was learnt that the digital gates, which would be managed by FAAN, in partnership with First Bank Nigeria Plc and another private firm, would ensure efficiency and accountability at the airport.
Balogun explained that for easy and convenient payment option, motorists could use pre-paid cards.
According to him, airport users can buy the ticket in bulk online or through their banks, adding that they might also pay cash at the entrance of the gate.
He enjoined motorists to comply with the new directive, stressing that it was geared towards ensuring safety and security at the airport.
