The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has announced that the Federal Government will introduce tolls on all major roads across Nigeria once construction and renovation projects are completed. Speaking at an Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja on Thursday, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 64th Independence anniversary, Umahi outlined the government’s plans to toll key road networks.

“We have the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, we are completing it, and we are tolling it,” Umahi said, highlighting several major roads slated for tolling. Among the roads listed were the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano Road, and Makurdi-9th Mile, among others. The tolling process will begin with the Keffi-Makurdi Road, which has already been completed. The minister also revealed that the Ministry of Works has been working with the Ministry of Finance to implement a paperless payment system for road users.

Umahi emphasized that the government’s goal is not just to toll the roads but also to enhance road safety and usability. “We are not just tolling them, we are bringing confidence in the use of these roads,” he said, explaining that improved security measures, such as reducing emergency response times to 10 minutes and installing solar lighting, will ensure safer travel, even at night.

He added, “If people can travel at night because we are bringing security, where the response time will be 10 minutes on the entire corridor, where you have solar light permanently there and then reduce travel time, and through the tolling, the roads are maintained, then, there will be confidence because Nigerians will pay if the roads are good.”

The minister noted that under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, road infrastructure is being handled more professionally, with a focus on viewing road developments as investments. The current administration inherited over 300 damaged roads and bridges, and new construction projects are scheduled to begin from October 1, 2024, across the six geopolitical zones.

Umahi also highlighted the financial benefits of the tolling system, stating that it will generate significant revenue for the Federal Government. He mentioned that the private sector has been engaged to help finance and construct the roads, in partnership with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Works.