Nobody’ll query return of toll gates on federal roads if they are in shape—Nigerians
Barely one month ago, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola dropped a shocker for Nigerians, saying federal government has concluded plans to reintroduce payment of toll gates across 38 federal highways in the country.
Though the policy is yet to takeoff, a cross-session of Nigerians who spoke to Business Hilights Bureau chiefs across the six geo-political zones of the country in unison, set a condition for the return. Former president Olusegun Obasanjo had during the last phase of his administration ordered the removal of all federal toll gates on grounds of corruption and poor returns from the controllers.
According to them, before any road will be tolled, it must be in its best condition and the provision of manageable alternative road which is the standard all over the world.
In South East, former chairman of Orlu Local Government Area, Chief Felix Ifezue averred that “For the policy to be successful, the Federal Government must seek ways to see that the roads are put back into shape before tolling can become effective. If Nigerians see the roads becoming motorable; free of potholes, I bet you, nobody will query the reintroduction of toll gates.
He said tolling is a global standard in road asset management by governments, but there are conditions that must be met before tolling will start to avoid unrest that may end up vandalizing the toll gate structures.
From the North East, a former banking executive with Union Bank who pleaded anonymity said “Even though managing a toll gates by the private sector will be the rule of engagement, it is important to know that no concessionaire will want to take over dilapidated roads and be expected to cough out humongous sums of monies to rehabilitate or, in some instances, reconstruct an entire new road network”.
“Therefore, let the government through its intervention agencies such as FERMA, be properly financed to rehabilitate the roads before they are tolled.
The banker noted that “FERMA has the capacity to human manpower and expertise to maintain and rehabilitate these roads. If given the right backing, certainly, the issue of failed roads will no longer arise as the agency will be able to finance the maintenance of the roads through tolling.”
A logistics group executive based in Port Harcourt, Dr. Sunday Amadi argued that “For government to think of returning toll gates, it has to find out why the policy was stopped by former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration to avoid confusion.
“We have been hearing of government spending only in the news, but when you traverse across the South South, you will begin to see that introducing the policy will take years as no federal road that in the region is in good shape to a distance of 40kms hence it will not work until roads are in good shapes.
In Kebbi State, a taxi operator running from Yauri –Kantagora-Minna said “The idea by the Federal Government to reintroduce toll gates back on our federal roads is a welcome development as it would help provide running funds for the management of the roads. Presently, the conditions of the roads are in need of maintenance and needs to be adequately improved upon. Again, there should be an alternative road that is at least passable”.
Speaking in Lagos, Dr. Kingsley Ajayi, a transport engineer said “First of all, Nigerians should have access to passage and movement anywhere, so, payment of toll fee is supposed to be for the good services provided on the toll roads. The only thing I will add here is that, the government should also look at the Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative as these are required to enable the partner to fully repair the road and later recover what he spends and also generate revenue to the government.”
“We in Lagos have seen what happened on the Lekki toll scheme where government convinced the private investors to come only to technically ease them away after observing that they are making more money than earlier anticipated. Today, Lagos State Government is the owner of the previously private sector investment.
Continuing, he said “Knowing full well that it is the same Minister introducing the tolls was the Lagos State Governor as at the time of hostile takeover of Lekki toll scheme from the original investors, some of us have fears if investors who will take over the federal roads tolling federal roads may not face the fate of Lekki Concession Company (LCC).
Contributing from Abuja, Chief Haruna Jacobs noted that returning the toll gates is okay, but with the paucity of capital expenditure funds facing the government since 2015 it won election, I doubt if this present government can fix all federal roads before tolling them.
“If the government goes ahead to toll without fixing any road, it will be resisted by all Nigerians because we have been over-deceived nobody will query the reintroduction of toll gates for too long.
According to him, “The idea of tolling our roads is a good one and only God knows why Obasanjo removed the toll gates from our highways. As a regular user of our highways, I will strongly support government on this but, it must be implemented in a sincere and transparent manner.
“The presence of toll gates will also ensure that travelers have a secured and safe rest place in the course of any eventuality. Yes, it is a good policy that must be encouraged. It is a revenue generating outfit for government.”
However, investigations by Business Hilights Intelligence Unit (BHIU), a consultancy research arm of Business Hilights publications in a report disclosed that the ministry’s 2018 budget now at the floor of the National Assembly does not have any clear budget that suggest that federal roads in bad shapes will be reconstructed.
Though some federal roads are currently undergoing reconstruction in parts of the country.
