Chairman of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, Ezekiel Adeniji, has said the Federal Government will soon reintroduce tollgates to federal roads across the country.
Adeniji, who spoke in an interview with online journal, Economic Confidential, on Saturday in Abuja, said it would generate revenue for government and jobs for Nigerians.
He did not, however, give a specific date for the reintroduction of tollgates.
Adeniji said, “Tolling is universal for revenue generation and job creation. In developed countries, there is no place you go to that you don’t pay toll for the roads you use.
“If you are paying for water, electricity and communication, why can’t you pay for good roads? We will have more revenue to maintain the roads.
“Because when you toll, you get more revenue, you create more jobs and you have funds to maintain the roads.”
Tollgates were scrapped by President Olusegun Obasanjo during his tenure. However, since his exit in 2007, there had been reports that government was considering the return of tollgates to federal roads, especially as some states like Lagos had successfully introduced such on their roads.
The FERMA boss also said the agency would recruit 10,000 Nigerians from communities where it would be engaged in major road maintenance work before the end of the year.
Adeniji said, “We intend to employ 10,000 youths along our routes before the end of the year. I mean 10,000 youths to work as labourers.
“They will have identity cards. They don’t even need to open bank accounts as they could be paid in cash.
“We want to hire indigenes living along federal roads as labourers. Those indigenes will be working on roads that affect their lives directly. The labourers should be the indigenes of the localities, while the leaders and head of the team could come from anywhere as far as they are Nigerians.”
He also said federal road maintenance engineers had been deployed in the 36 states to manage 95 road camps, adding that these would soon be increased to 500.
He said, “We are working towards having about 500 road camps where the indigenous population would be recruited to monitor the roads and report to FRMEs towards the maintenance of the roads.”
He said the efforts would reduce crime on the highways and create job opportunities for unemployed youths within the communities.
if u attack my papa house, I'll retaliate but if you are peace loving,I will embrace you
Posted: at 6-08-2012 05:11 AM (12 years ago) | Hero
dlimelite at 6-08-2012 06:19 AM (12 years ago) (f)
“If you are paying for water, electricity and communication, why can’t you pay for good roads? We will have more revenue to maintain the roads.
Why pay for roads that arnt even that good and has killed many lives. The toll money isn't going to be used to maintain any roads when gov't can't even spend a dime for roads or electricity. It's just more money to cash into ppl's pockets.
Posted: at 6-08-2012 06:19 AM (12 years ago) | Hero
[/size]msg3122948#msg3122948 date=1344230386] “If you are paying for water, electricity and communication, why can’t you pay for good roads? We will have more revenue to maintain the roads.
Why pay for roads that arnt even that good and has killed many lives. The toll money isn't going to be used to maintain any roads when gov't can't even spend a dime for roads or electricity. It's just more money to cash into ppl's pockets.
wahala dey be that then.
if u attack my papa house, I'll retaliate but if you are peace loving,I will embrace you
Posted: at 6-08-2012 09:03 AM (12 years ago) | Hero
Naija i hear say Usain Bolt is origin from Nigeria E real name na Olamide Olusegun Usain Balogun . Naija una too much oo coffee wey I dey drink for hia comot for my nose as I read this.
Posted: at 6-08-2012 10:02 AM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac
dis people Boko haram and goodluck jonathan beef never stil finish Naija una too much oo coffee wey I dey drink for hia comot for my nose as I read this.
Posted: at 6-08-2012 10:47 AM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac
aso4life1 at 6-08-2012 10:49 AM (12 years ago) (m)
Quote from: BendelArmedRobb on 6-08-2012 10:02 AM
Naija i hear say Usain Bolt is origin from Nigeria E real name na Olamide Olusegun Usain Balogun . Naija una too much oo coffee wey I dey drink for hia comot for my nose as I read this.
Bendel Insurance, you are very fast in breaking news oooo, I hear say he is one of former Inspector general of Police TAFA BALOGUN'S Pikin...he had Usain while he went for Police training in Jamaica.
if u attack my papa house, I'll retaliate but if you are peace loving,I will embrace you
Posted: at 6-08-2012 10:49 AM (12 years ago) | Hero
Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has hinted that the Federal government will be re-introducing tolls at Federal roads in Nigeria. Fashola says the money generated from the tolls will be used for the maintenance of the roads. He said this during his first news conference tagged ‘Setting the Agenda for Delivering Change’ in Abuja today December 8th...
Quote
“Maintenance would be our watchword. We are setting up a robust maintenance regime to keep our highways in good shape. This shows that tolling is necessary to support government funding. So, it will not be too much if we ask every road user to pay little to augment government funding for road maintence. It is eminent commonsense for us to find that money. We will use technology; so if we don’t pay cash, you will pay by tokens or tickets and the money is accountable and it will go to the right place. We will manage that fund properly and we will hold those who we put there to account.”
I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist
Posted: at 8-12-2015 09:31 PM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero
Mt best govt and d best minster among all. Pls don't re introduce it o. Nigerians pay tax and so many other things. Now dis toll fee? Can't u pple work on d dilapidated infrastructure and all those region who does not contribute their revenue but collecting oil money to start contributing some how especially those cattle rearers, tomatoes and cast crop farmers up north.
Posted: at 8-12-2015 10:01 PM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero