FG reintroduces toll gates policy, releases amounts to be paid

The federal government has reintroduced toll gates policy on federal roads and bridges.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday, approved a Federal Roads and Bridges Tolling Policy and Regulations, according to Presidential aide, Tolu Ogunlesi.

He disclosed this in a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Wednesday, August 11.

The statement listed the recommended tolling fees in the approved policy and regulations to include “Cars: N200; SUVs: N300; Private Buses: N300; Commercial Buses: N150; Luxury Buses and Trucks: N500”.

Ogunlesi said the policy and regulations were approved during the FEC meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

The presidential aide, wrote that the minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the regulations were developed after extensive consultations with various stakeholders within and outside the government.

He noted that the minister, stated that a Willingness-To-Pay Survey was carried out to arrive at the recommended pricing framework.

We gathered that some of the stakeholders consulted include the National Union of Road Transport Workers, and Road Transport Employers’ Association Of Nigeria.

Ogunlesi disclosed that the tolling system is an open one where motorists only pay a fixed/flat rate that is not dependent on the distance travelled.

Adding that only dual carriageways owned by the federal government will be eligible for tolling under the new policy.

Some bridges are also listed in the policy. Fashola was quoted as explaining that the 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 (HDMI).

He said electronic toll collection and management systems will be prioritized over cash systems.

People who live around Toll Plaza Areas will benefit from what is called ‘Frequent User’ discounts, in line with global best practice.

However, no immediate implementation of the policy so far.

Fashola disclosed that even with the approval of the policy, tolling is not going to start immediately, until the roads are motorable.”

The statement reads in part: “This policy is a necessary condition for the implementation of Tolling, and it is now for people to start getting familiar with it and for relevant stakeholders to start using it as a basis for their financial modeling and investment analysis, ahead of the eventual rollout of Toll Plazas.”

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