The Chairman of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, Ezekiel Adeniji, has said that the Federal Government will soon reintroduce tollgates to federal roads across the country.
Tollgates were scrapped by former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo during his tenure.
However, since his exit in 2007, there has been reports that the government was considering the return of tollgates to federal roads. This is likely especially as some states like Lagos have successfully introduced such on their roads.
The FERMA boss also said the agency would recruit 10,000 Nigerians from communities where it would be engaged in major road maintenance work before the end of the year.
In an interview with Economic Confidential, Adeniji did not give a specific date for the reintroduction of tollgates, but he said that tolling is for revenue generation and job creation.
“In developed countries, there is no place you go to that you don’t pay toll for the roads you use.
“If you are paying for water, electricity and communication, why can’t you pay for good
roads?
Tolling is universal. But the government that scrapped the tolling knows the reason why they scrapped it, and we also have reasons why we want to return it. It is as simple as that.
“Because when you toll, you get more revenue, you create more jobs and you have funds to maintain the roads.”
What do you think about his statement? Would it be wise to reintroduce tolling on all Federal roads in the country? Do you agree that reintroducing tolling on the roads would create more funds to maintain the roads?
