The federal government may re-introduce toll gates on federal highways by the third quarter of this year, Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, has said.

Speaking monday at the 2013 ministerial platform on the mid-term achievements of the Jonathan administration, the minister said tolling was an integral part of the public private partnership(PPP) being pursued by the federal government.

He added that the Federal Ministry of Works and the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) were collaborating on the formulation of a new tolling policy, which, he said, would be presented to the Federal Executive Council in the third quarter of the year after which it would become operational.

Onolememen also said the ministry had paid N120 billion for the 32 roads it had repaired in the last one year of the administration.
He explained that of the 65,000 kilometres of roads constructed in the period under review, 35,000 belonged to the federal government.

According to him, this translated to 35 per cent improvement over the less than 25 per cent done by May last year.
The minister said the six key projects, including Abuja-Lokoja, Benin-Ore and Kano-Maiduguri roads, would be completed in 2015.
He expressed his determination to complete within the next two years priority projects in the north.

I think it is a brilliant idea,as the toll gates will be used as security points where criminals can be intercepted.Our security services need to build solid communications infrastructure-for Nationwide communications between arms of security operatives.

good idea!!

What's the different between "tollgate" and "check points" out military guys are always lazy for stop and search,rather prefer stipends from motorists.
I see no difference from the present measures

There you have it folks. Our "government" cannot secure roads unless it tolls them. Ah ah - the joke is on anyone who commends such nonsensical reasoning.

Toll gates to secure roads?


LOL! Huh?

This is misleading information. I support all Federal Highways to be tolled so that the monies recouped could be used to maintain the roads. But I don't know how tolling is going to curb terrorism? They should talk about using check points to curb terrorism and not tool booths.

Ricky_Ross: This is misleading information. I support all Federal Highways to be tolled so that the monies recouped could be used to maintain the roads. But I don't know how tolling is going to curb terrorism? They should talk about using check points to curb terrorism and not tool booths.

Bros, you support all Federal highways to be tolled but condemn Fashola for tolling the Lekki/Ikoyi bridge. hmmmmmm

Yes toll gates should be introduced not just to monitor the activities on the roads,but more importantly to collect resources for the maintenance of the roads.

The roads in Nigeria should be concessioned to major construction companies who can manage them. The toll collected should be used to maintain the roads in perfect conditions every year. That way,we are assured of the roads being very good all year round and the FG does not even need to spend money on those roads anymore.

That saved money should then be concentrated on building railway lines across the country.

Ricky_Ross: This is misleading information. I support all Federal Highways to be tolled so that the monies recouped could be used to maintain the roads. But I don't know how tolling is going to curb terrorism? They should talk about using check points to curb terrorism and not tool booths.

Use your brain,since checkpoints have been banned,the toll gates can be used for screening of suspicious vehicles,or to act as barricade to prevent easy movement of criminals-i didnt say toll gates will be turned to checkpoints,but with creative reasoning we can use one stone here to kill two birds.

cjrane: Yes toll gates should be introduced not just to monitor the activities on the roads,but more importantly to collect resources for the maintenance of the roads.

The roads in Nigeria should be concessioned to major construction companies who can manage them. The toll collected should be used to maintain the roads in perfect conditions every year. That way,we are assured of the roads being very good all year round and the FG does not even need to spend money on those roads anymore.

That saved money should then be concentrated on building railway lines across the country.

nice contribution brother-thank God for Nigerians with apt reasoning ability like you.
same thing Fashola is doing in Lagos,and myopic people are raising alarm.Without concessions with private companies(who will collect toll for maintenance), it will be a mirage to expect good motor-able roads,in this corruption infested country like Nigeria.