The Federal Government has said the purpose of reintroducing tolling
system into the management of the Nigerian roads was to help boost the
road sector across the country.
Speaking Thursday, during the Federal Roads and Bridges Tolling Policy
consultation forum in Abuja, Minister of state for works Amb. Bashir
Yuguda,said the re-introduction of the tolling policy would open the
sector to both local and international investors.
According to him, the fact that over 90 per cent of economic and
social activities are run on the Nigerian roads put so much pressure
on them, adding that as such so much funds are needed to maintain the
roads to keep them in motorable condition.
"The economy is doing well, the road transport account for over 90% of
the movement of road and services in the country any nation no matter
how advance you are, almost 90% of the movement of goods and services
in this country is on road and that calls for regular maintenance," he
noted.
Yuguda stated that it would be run on a Public Private Partnership
basis unlike in the past where it was run in a public service method
with all its trappings of inadequacies and mismanagement.
He also said that the federal government had come up with a
comprehensive policy to back up the tolling system with a view to
avoiding the pitfalls of the past.
He therefore urged all the participants to deplore their professional
acumen in coming up with a robust policy document that would enhance
seamless operation of the tolling policy.
"I urge you to have robust discussion on how we can come up with
comprehensive policy on our roads. We have developed a template and we
will subject to review, after which we will now come up with the final
document to take to the federal council for the approval of the
council and the approval of the President," Yuguda added.
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