Breaking: Motorists Now To Pay Tolls on Federal Roads

…as FG Approves Federal Tolling Policy and Regulations

News just reaching RovingNaija indicates that the Federal Executive (FEC) has granted approval for a Federal Roads and Bridges Policy and Regulation which was initiated by the Ministry of Works and Housing.

With the approval of the policy by the FG, motorists are soon to start paying tolls on federal roads in the country.

While briefing the media on Wednesday in Abuja, the Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola said the new policy details the terms for the collection of tolls from motorists plying designated federal roads in the country.

Fashola said the Tolling Policy is a broad national framework that will serve as a guide for states and local government who seek to implement their own tolling policies.

He also explained that toll revenues will be used to maintain the roads and also to repay investors who have invested in building or completion of roads under the Highway Development Management Initiative (HDMI).

Fashola, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) informed journalists that people who live at close proximity to toll plaza areas will benefit from what is called a frequent user discount in line with global best practice.

The former two-term Governor of Lagos state explained that the Federal Highways Act vests the power to toll Federal Roads in the minister responsible for roads but the implementation of any tolling policy regime involves many processes and multiple agencies which requires multi-stakeholder collaboration for execution.

He also clarified that despite the approval granted by the FEC tolling will only commence after the roads have been made motorable.

“The policy is a necessary condition for the implementation of tolling and it is now for people to start getting familiar with it and for relevant stakeholders to start using it as a basis for their financial modeling and investment analysis ahead of the eventual rollout of Toll Plazas,” he emphasized.

Other highlights of the document seen by RovingNaija includes the following:

The adoption of an open tolling system which used to be in existence in the country as against a closed tolling system.

That only dual carriageways owned by the Federal Government will be eligible for tolling by the Federal Government (out of the 35,000km of Federal roads in the country, only 5,050km are dual carriageway) while Federal carriageways that are single will not be subject to tolling with the only exception being some bridges as highlighted in the Policy.

Electronic Toll collection and management systems will be prioritized over cash systems.

Bicycles, Tricycles, Motorcycles as well as Diplomatic, Military and Paramilitary vehicles are exempt from the tolling.

RovingNaija observes that the tolling fees in the approved Policy and Regulations are as follows:

Cars – N200, SUVs – N300, Private Buses – N300, Commercial Buses and Trucks – N500.