The Federal Government has announced plans to toll all major roads in the country once construction and renovation are completed, according to Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.
Umahi made this disclosure during an inter-ministerial press briefing in Abuja, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary.
He listed key roads slated for tolling, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano Road, and Makurdi-9th Mile, according to the PUNCH.
The minister explained that private sector partners have been engaged to provide funding and collaborate with relevant agencies.
He added that the Ministry of Works is working with the Ministry of Finance to implement a paperless payment system.
Umahi emphasized that tolling will ensure road maintenance, enhance security measures, and provide users with confidence while traveling.
He noted that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has adopted a more professional approach to road development.
The minister revealed that the government inherited 300 damaged roads and bridges but has made significant progress. New road constructions are set to begin on October 1 across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The tolling initiative aims to promote sustainable road infrastructure and enhance user experience.
With improved lighting, reduced travel times, and enhanced security, Nigerians are expected to have more confidence in using the nation’s roads.
“We have the Lagos-Ibadan (expressway), we are completing it and we are tolling it.”
Umahi said private sector members have been engaged “to bring in funds, construct these roads, work with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Works to toll these roads.”
He said: “For example, we are completing the La-gos-Ibadan, we are working on Makurdi to 9th Mile in Enugu State, we are working from Abuja to Lagos. These roads are going to be tolled. But, we are not just tolling them, we are bringing confidence in the use of these roads.
“If people can travel at night because we are bringing security, where the response time will be 10 minutes on the entire corridor, where you have solar light permanently there and then reduce travel time, and through the tolling, the roads are maintained, then, there will be confidence because Nigerians will pay if the roads are good.”
