FG To Reintroduce Toll Gates In 38 Points Across Country — Fashola

Minister of Power,  Works and Housing,  Babatunde Fashola on Thursday disclosed that federal government has concluded arrangement to reintroduce toll gates in 38 points across the country after completion of the highways. 

Fashola who appeared before Senate Committee on FERMA informed the lawmakers that the toll gates would be managed by private sector and government would design software to monitor vehicles passing through the roads and road users would be able to pay toll on their phones. 

The Minister said that the toll would be used for maintenance of the highways. 

According to him, “we have concluded plans to reintroduce toll gates across the country and we have finalised the design.  

“It will be managed by private sector and it will be located in the old places,  38 point across the country, we are only waiting for the completion of those roads before we introduce the toll gates.”

The Minister also appealed to the Committee to revise procurement law in order to fastback contract approval by the government. 

Speaking on the budget release to FERMA,  Fashola disclosed that out of N25 billion budget for the agency in the 2017 budget only N800 million was released so far by the federal ministry of Finance to the agency. 

In his opening  remarks,  the chairman of the committee,  Senator Magnus Abe expressed dissatisfaction with increase in traffic during festive period across the country. 

Responding to the presentation of the Minister,  Abe stated that the committee would come up with a motion on the release of N800 million to FERMA out of the N25 billion appropriated in the 2017 budget. 

He said the committee could clearly see the challenges facing the agency with interactive session. 

The chairman added that he was pleased when he was informed by the Minister that main cause of the accidents is no bad roads. 

According to him, this has been a very useful interaction, we can clearly see the challenges you are facing , we will give you support.

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