FG Reintroduces Tollgates Policy, When To Start And Amount To Pay

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday August 11, 2021, approved the federal roads and bridges tollgates policy and regulation that will provide legal framework for its implementation, Onyxnewsng gathered.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, briefed State House correspondents after the virtual FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Fashola said that tolling would not start until the roads were made motorable.

According to him, “The Ministry of Works and Housing presented a policy memorandum for the approval of federal roads and bridges tolling policy and also a regulation that will provide legal framework for the tolling policy.

“You will recall that about three years ago, you have asked severally here when roads will be tolled and I told you there is a lot of work.

“So, we have taken another step; let me be clear, tolls are not going to start tomorrow; so, let us just be clear about that; but the bid step to actual tolling was taken today by presenting for approval the broad policy that would guide tolling.

“So, that local people, states, local governments, all those who manage roads, investors who want to come in, will know what our tolling policy is.

“And that will form the basis of their financial modeling, their investments decision.

“When will they start? Tolls will not start until the roads are motorable; there will be agreements that have to be in place; negotiated with government through the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.’’

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While presenting some of the highlights that would be adopted in the tolling policy, Fashola stated that an open tolling policy would be adopted as opposed to a closed tolling policy.

After the FEC meeting, Fashola said only 5, 005 kilometres of dual carriageways out of the 35,000 kilometres of federal roads in the country– that is 14.3 per cent – would be eligible for tolling. Adding that vehicles would pay between N200 and N500 per trip, depending on their make.