dejol88:


According to the report, if I am travelling from Lagos to owerri a distance of 538km , I will pay toll in Benin to asaba, asaba to onitsha via the new constructed bridge and finally pay toll from onitsha to owerri.

But my good friend shehu will leave same Lagos to Kano about 987km but will only pay toll between lokoja to Abuja.

You see why some of us feel Nigeria is full of injustice.

ubox:

You can travel out of your state without paying because it's mandatory for there to be an alternative route that's not being tolled though it might be longer in distance than the tolled route.

Miracle2022:
so you didn't see illorin- jebba, Kano portiskum, Abuja- akwanga, Kaduna to Kano? Even Abuja -Kaduna road is there.
This issues of ethnicity will surely make you to look stupid.

flokii:
Like I don't get.. why will govt. tax commuters on highways? on what grounds??
The only time you toll say a highway is if it's newly constructed and govt. needs to recoup the money (over a stipulated period of time).

What exactly is wrong with the present APC cabinet members? It's like they are taking Nigerians for a ride or something. Diesel has gone up to #700, PMS is approaching #400 and prices of goods have doubled in the market, yet minimum wage hasn't increased.

Franking:


Better southern economy translating into more southern motorists justify more toll gates in the South with shorter distances while the north with longer distances either pay less or don't pay at all?
Wow!

Richardjcooper:


I’m coming from the point of view of a corrupt politician. My opinion is no tolls at all. At least not with the present situation of the country

SmartPolician:


You are just being a typical Nigerian who wants the government to do everything for them while they do absolutely nothing. A people who demand 24-hour power supply, but keep bypassing their meter so they don't pay power bills. Yes, that's a typical Nigerian and that, my friend, is the highest level of irresponsibility.

TBH, there's nothing wrong with being asked to pay N500 -1000 while traveling 500km as long as there's accountability and the money is used to maintain the federal road.

The debate we should be having here is that the government should use part of the money to settle the police checkpoints that will be stationed along two tollgates that are hundreds of kilometers apart so that motorists don't spend a lot of money while traveling.

As for paying tolls to use world-class federal roads, nobody should be complaining because even the so-called poor people you speak of don't have cars. As far as I am concerned, cars are luxury in Nigeria because we don't run a government-sponsored credit system. That's why a vast majority of us drive fairly used cars.

Born2Breed:



How can you be this gullible and devoid of common sense? With your full chest, you wrote this gibberish and don't feel you deserve a bed space at yabaleft?

This is the worst I've ever read on NL.

Well, some mothers do have them.

Franking:


Yeah, the corrupt politician part is well noted. I guess everything is relative because the northern politicians are no better. They generally keep their people in perpetual penury.

dettolgel:


Lagos to Kano how many toll?

obi58:


Bros.... I have 2 questions for you....
1. If private companies would be more efficient infrastructure managers, why was the construction of these roads not concessioned to them in the first place instead of government incurring massive debt?
2. Where in this country has public roads been efficiently managed by private tolling companies in the past?

Miracle2022:
we don't need to continue doing the same thing year inn year out without good results. We need to change tactics.

Fairmedia:
Tolling has a security advantage, because security personnel are also deployed at toll gates,.it also helps to slow down fleeing criminals, by paying for toll, you are paying for good service on the highways.

A country like Nigeria needs such a system, for effective security coordination, as well as providing essential services on the highways, such as free vehicle towing service, when cars break down, free services, cleaning and maintenance of the highway etc. Giving the toll to a private company to manage on behalf of government, is the way to go. Government owns the entity (tollgate), but employs private consultant to run it. It's mostly heavy duty trucks and transporters that will feel the impact of tolling, for they are always on the road, it is okay for government to tax businesses because it leads to more revenue for the state, to be used on the society. Most people hardly travel and use highways.

dejol88:


According to the report, if I am travelling from Lagos to owerri a distance of 538km , I will pay toll in Benin to asaba, asaba to onitsha via the new constructed bridge and finally pay toll from onitsha to owerri.

But my good friend shehu will leave same Lagos to Kano about 987km but will only pay toll between lokoja to Abuja.

You see why some of us feel Nigeria is full of injustice.

obi58:


Bros we were all in this country awhile back when the FG cited reasons for toll gate removal and implemented same.

We are always quick to quote other climes when it comes to government's core function of providing basic amenities for its citizens arguing that management of these resources will be better in private hands , that is why our refineries don't work and our privatised power sector is basically moribund. Look at what is happening in the country regarding fuel scarcity. EVERYTHING has skyrocketed. Airlines are on the verge of shutdown.
Nigerians are suffering badly and now you want to impose road taxes which further increase the cost of transportation and goods. Which way are we going?

Fairmedia:

Read carefully...most times they charge N200, N500, it is small money compared to the value the heavy duty truck or transport bus is carrying. Good services takes taxes, levies or such tolling system. How many times do you trave?...it is the Dangotes and other transporters who are getting paid daily from the road, that will always pay. The amount of toll is quite insignificant to warrant a huge change in the overall cost, toll gate levies will not make any serious transport company raise fares. But it accumulates for public service and utility. Read well am talking of either concession, or public assets but run and managed by private consultants.

obi58:


What are the good results we have enjoyed from privatising the power sector?

Why did the government not hand these roads to private companies to construct and then manage? Why incur extra debt

Born2Breed:


You don't even have sense. I thought I was mentioned for a reasonable suggestion, not this bunkum.

Miracle2022:
one step at a time.
Privatisation of electricity was not given 100% to private companies.

obi58:


Bros you keep forgetting the Nigerian factor or rather, the multiplier effect that makes the market woman increase the price of pepper because dollar price went up. You may look at it that it's just N200 owe car but what if the vehicle passes 3 roads along it's journey? Doesn't that build up. If it's a commercial vehicle don't you think these added costs will be transferred

Yes transport companies may not increase bus fares but you can be sure that private transit vehicles and buses will transfer the cost of ferrying commodities to their customers who will transfer it to increased market price for their commodities.

It's better to impose a road tax on licensed trucking and bus companies for maintenance of these structures than create another pool of funds that supposedly serve the masses but instead will end up in the wrong hands like the fuel subsidy.

Quitam:

In its bid to ensure the regular maintenance of its road network across Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing plans to concession no fewer than 12 federal highways to private entities to manage.

The arrangement would enable the private companies to introduce toll gates on the 12 highways and collect revenue which they would use and regularly maintain such roads.
This information is contained in a document, which Vanguard obtained, yesterday, from the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in Abuja.

The 12 highways to be concessioned under the Ministry’s “Highway Management Development Initiative”, HMDI, are: [/b]Benin-Asaba, Abuja-Lokoja, Kano-Katsina, Onitsha-Owerri, Shagamu-Benin and Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga.[b]

Others are: [/b]Kano-Shuari, Potiskum-Damaturu, Lokoja-Benin, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Ilorin-Jebba, Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta and Lagos-Badagry-Seme Border.[b]

The roads, according to the ministry, come under the pilot phase of the HDMI to be managed by selected private sector investors under its Value-Added Concession, VAC, arrangement.

The 12 highways according to the document reviewed by Vanguard represent merely 5.6 percent or 1,963 kilometres of the country’s 35,000 km federal highway network.

The document estimates that not less than N1.34 trillion of private sector investment would flow into the highways while no fewer than 50,000 direct jobs and 200,000 indirect jobs would be created by the concessioning of the highways to the private operators

“It’s not really about revenue; it is about the expected injection into the economy. The estimated private sector investment required for the development and maintenance of the 12 routes is N1.34 trillion and the impact such investment will have on the economy cannot be overstated.

“The anticipated private sector investment will stimulate thousands of job opportunities for Nigerians as the Highway Economy comes alive along federal highways.

A minimum 50,000 direct jobs and over 200’000 indirect jobs are envisaged to be created spanning construction works, installations, steel fabrication, security, hospitality, vehicle repairs, waste management and administrative work as the Value Chain along the Highway Economy is activated. The combined impact of this mini economy will be a significant boost to our national GDP as productivity and earnings are enhanced,” the ministry document boasted.

Beyond the Value-Added Concession, VAC arrangement, the FMWH is also planning to use another vehicle known as the Unbundled Assets Approvals initiative, UAAI, to maximize the use of its assets on the highways.

Under this category, the ministry plans to issue approvals/permits to individuals to use assets on the right of way on a Build, Operate and or maintain basis.

Both the VAC and the UAAI, according to the ministry aim to provide adequate highway services through the development of revenue-generating assets along the highway.

“This is key to maintaining the functionality of the highway as well as engaging and generating wealth for indigenous small and medium enterprises,” it says.

The ministry explained that it had already obtained the approval of the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission, ICRC, to go ahead with the implementation of the HMDI which incorporates the concessioning of the highways and the right of way to private sector operators.

Explaining the objectives of the HMDI, the ministry said: “The objective is to develop an eco-system along the federal highway network by bringing multi-dimensional resources of skills, manpower, finance, technology, and efficiency into the National Highway governance.

“Ultimately, this home-grown initiative will be the lasting solution to the development and management of federal highways by introducing order, accountability and profitable entrepreneurship to the operation, management, and maintenance of Nigeria’s 35,000 km federal highways.

“The Initiative is expected to be anchored on private sector engagement via concessioning of economically viable routes to technically and financially capable private companies, through the management and development of the right-of-way. A major hindrance to highway development and management has been a paucity of required funds to service the vast and ever-expanding road network. To negate this handicap, the FMWH proposes the engagement of concessionaires who will manage and develop the right of way, whilst maximizing its commercial potential.

“The main objective of the Initiative is to attract expertise and sustainable investment/funding in the development of road infrastructure and to maximize the use of assets along the Right of Way and develop other highway furniture,” the ministry pointed out.
The government, according to the document will soon call for bidders in a transparent process that would be conducted in collaboration with the ICRC.

It said: “The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, in collaboration with the ICRC, will soon advertise the Request for Qualification (RFQ) bidding process for the available categories under the HDMI scheme.

“The process will be transparent to allow the most effective bids to compete vigorously in a process that delivers service and dividend to Nigerians. (technically and financially capable firms/consortiums).

“We are determined to ensure our assets are entrusted into capable hands. Therefore, interested persons, companies and groups are advised to

Form consortiums of construction/road maintenance companies, financiers, toll operators, rest house operators, advertising companies, lane marking experts, refuse managers and other partners.”
Some of the revenue-generating assets and highway services being targeted by the ministry are: Toll plazas, weighbridges, advertising assets, directional signage structures and space, street lighting with advertising space and open spaces, including but not limited to truck parks and rest areas, refuse management, towing services, highway monitoring and emergency services.

The ministry made it clear that it was carrying out the new initiative since it has a legal framework under the Federal Highway Act, which vests the Minister of Works and Housing with authority over federal highway network and empowers him to administer tolls on federal highways.

Besides, the ministry said that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) is mandated by law with regulatory oversight over Ministries, Departments and Agencies in developing bankable PPP projects, pointing out that the ICRC worked closely with it in the conception of the initiative.

“The ICRC has just issued a Certificate of Compliance to the Ministry of Works and Housing, what this means is that the ministry has met all the conditions necessary to proceed to the next stage of procurement of the HDMI scheme.

“So, we are about to kick-off with the pilot phase of the HDMI scheme. In the first phase, the government is proposing the concession of 12 selected federal highways to private sector investors, under the Value-Added Concession, VAC arrangement”.

SOURCE:https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/02/fg-plans-tolling-on-12-highways/amp/

Parachoko:
Have the second Niger bridge been completed?

dejol88:


According to the report, if I am travelling from Lagos to owerri a distance of 538km , I will pay toll in Benin to asaba, asaba to onitsha via the new constructed bridge and finally pay toll from onitsha to owerri.

But my good friend shehu will leave same Lagos to Kano about 987km but will only pay toll between lokoja to Abuja.

You see why some of us feel Nigeria is full of injustice.