FG set to introduce toll gates

In its bid to reintroduce toll gates on Nigerian roads and bridges, the Federal Government on Wednesday summoned stakeholders and road users to a consultation forum in Abuja to explain the key benefits of its tolling policy.

It also urged the stakeholders to make input into the already prepared 'Draft Green Paper on Federal Roads and Bridges Tolling Policy'."

The Minister of State for Works, Mr. Bashir Yuguda, said the planned tolling of roads and bridges was part of the reforms of the ministry.

He stated that Nigerian roads needed adequate maintenance, adding that the Federal Government lacked the financial capacity to sustain the maintenance.

He said, "Road transport accounts for over 90 per cent of the movement of goods and services in Nigeria and this shows that we must give our roads the required attention as they contribute largely to our overall economy.

"But there is hardly enough which the Federal Government can do, so the idea of tolling is very crucial. I urge stakeholders to come up with inputs that will make the policy very comprehensive and beneficial to us all."

The draft paper, which was prepared by the ministry, stated that tolling would generate the revenue needed to recover the invested funds for the construction, rehabilitation, financing, maintenance and operation of the roads and bridges.

This, it said, was in order to achieve reasonable returns for investors. It further explained that the Federal Government would enter into toll concessions only where such concessions were financially viable.

On the key benefits of the tolling policy, Yuguda said the policy would help improve the quality and safety of Nigerian roads, add thousands of kilometres to the already existing road network, promote international best practices with affordability for road users and ensure incentives for further private investment.