From Fred Itua, Abuja
The Senate has mandated its committee on Works to carefully study the toll gate policy together with other relevant stakeholders on effective and efficient ways to carry out the policy with the aim of producing a holistic package to generate funds for roads maintenance.
Yesterday’s resolution of the Senate followed a motion moved by Suleiman Nazif on the need for the re-establishment of toll gates on our Federal Highways.
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo had, on December 30, 2003, disbanded toll gates across the country. The ban took effect on January 1, 2004.
Obasanjo based his reason for scrapping the policy on claims that it had outlived its usefulness. He had also stated that the scheme was placing financial burdens on Nigerians.
In December 2015, the Senate called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reintroduce toll gates across the country in order to reduce the burdens on the roads. The current move is coming 10 months after it took a similar position.
But explaining the need to reintroduce the scheme, Senator Nazif said the purpose “is to generate revenues which will aid effective and efficient maintenance of Federal Highways.”
He said the deplorable state of roads across the country has become a national shame and embarrassment. The lawmaker noted that the re-establishment of toll gates would solve the problem of dilapidated road networks.
“Besides revenue generation, the presence of toll gates which are normally managed by armed security agents, provides a level of safety for road users. The government cannot fund road construction alone.
“The poor state of roads in Nigeria has remained, for many years, a great source of risk for travelers and transporters. Cases of road accidents being reported daily in the new media paint terrible and pathetic pictures of this ugly development,” Nazif said.
All the lawmakers who contributed spoke in favour of the motion and stressed the need for the reintroduction of toll gates. Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu who presided during plenary, also lauded the move.
He urged the committee on Works to do a thorough job and report back as soon as possible to enable lawmakers take a position on the issue.