The Nigeria Government has made known the return of Toll gates on all Federal roads in the nation as approved during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, 11th August 2021. This directive was revealed by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola who made the briefing at the press after the FEC meeting, the Policy and accompanying Regulations were developed after extensive consultations with various stakeholders within and outside Government, including Transport Unions like NURTW, NARTO, RTEAN.
More so, the Special Assistant to the president on Digital and Media Tolu Ogunlesi in a statement posted on his official Facebook page the recommended tolling fees in the approved policy and regulations, listed “Cars: N200; SUVs: N300; Private Buses: N300; Commercial Buses: N150; Luxury Buses and Trucks: N500".
The statement listed 10 highlights of the new Federal Tolling Policy as follows:
“It will be an Open Tolling system (just like the one that used to be in existence in the country), instead of a Closed Tolling system. (A Closed Tolling system means that you pay per distance traveled (‘distance-dependent), while Open Tolling means you pay a fixed/flat rate that is not dependent on distance traveled).
“Only dual carriageways owned by the Federal Government will be eligible for tolling by the Federal Government. (Of the 35,000km of Federal Roads in existence in the country, only 5,050km is dual carriageway). Federal carriageways that are single, i.e. undivided highways will not be tolled. The only exceptions here will be some bridges, which are listed in the Policy.
“Toll Revenues will be used to maintain the roads and also to repay investors who have invested in building or completing a road under the Highway Development Management Initiative.
“Electronic Toll Collection and Management systems will be prioritized over Cash systems.
“The following will be exempted from Tolling: Bicycles, Tricycles, Motorcycles, Diplomatic vehicles, Military, and Paramilitary vehicles.
“The Tolling Policy is a broad National framework that will serve as a guide for States and Local Governments who seek to implement their own Tolling Policies. (As noted earlier, only about 16% of the total road network in Nigeria belongs to the Federal Government. States own/control roughly the same amount as the FG, while the rest – amounting to two-thirds are last-mile roads belonging to and under the responsibility of Local Governments).
“People who live around Toll Plaza Areas will benefit from what is called ‘Frequent User’ discounts, in line with global best practice.
