By Or Reporter
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced that the Federal Government plans to implement tolls on all major roads in Nigeria once construction and renovations are completed.
During an Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja, part of Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary celebrations, Umahi stated, “We are completing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and it will be tolled.” He mentioned additional roads slated for tolling, including the Second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano Road, and Makurdi-9th Mile.
Umahi emphasized that tolling federal roads is expected to generate significant revenue for the government. He revealed that private sector partners have been engaged to fund and construct these roads, working in collaboration with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Works.
The minister noted that tolling will begin with the completed Keffi-Makurdi Road and highlighted plans for a paperless payment system in partnership with the Ministry of Finance.
He explained, “We are not just tolling these roads; we aim to instill confidence in their use. Enhanced security measures will enable safe night travel, with a response time of 10 minutes across the corridors and permanent solar lighting, leading to reduced travel times. If the roads are well-maintained through tolling, Nigerians will be willing to pay.”
Umahi remarked that previous road developments were not treated as investments, but the current administration under President Bola Tinubu is approaching them more professionally. He noted that the government inherited 300 damaged roads and bridges and plans to initiate further road construction across the six geopolitical zones starting October 1, 2024.