Kayode Shopekan
THE Federal Executive Council has approved policy and regulations for toll gates on federal roads and bridges in the country.
Speaking with newsmen after FEC meeting on Wednesday, Minister for Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the policy and accompanying regulations were developed after extensive consultations with various stakeholders within and outside the government, including transport unions.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelFashola explained that the current fees being paid at tolled roads in Lagos and Abuja were taken into consideration while developing the policy.
The minister said, “Open Tolling System would be adopted and only dual carriageways owned by the federal government will be tolled. Recommended tolling fees in the Approved Policy and Regulations are as follows: Cars: N200, SUVs: N300 Private Buses: N300, Commercial Buses: N150, Luxury Buses, and Trucks: N500.
“Tolled revenues will be used to maintain the roads, repay investors who have invested in building the Highway Development Management Initiative (HDMI).”
According to him, the policy stipulates that electronic toll collection and management systems will be prioritised over cash systems, while bicycles, tricycles, motorcycles, diplomatic vehicles, military and paramilitary vehicles will be exempted from tolling.
“People who live around Toll Plaza areas will benefit from ‘frequent user’ discounts, in line with global best practices,” Fashola said.
He however stated that even with the approved policy, tolling of federal roads and bridges would not commence immediately.
