The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the federal roads and bridges tolling policy and regulation that will provide legal framework for its implementation.
Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, briefed State House correspondents after the virtual FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The minister however said tolling would not start until the roads were made motorable.
“The Ministry of Works and Housing presented a policy memorandum for the approval of federal roads and bridges tolling policy and also a regulation that will provide legal framework for the tolling policy.
“You will recall that about three years ago, you have asked severally here when roads will be tolled and I told you there is a lot of work.
“So, we have taken another step; let me be clear, tolls are not going to start tomorrow; so, let us just be clear about that; but the bid step to actual tolling was taken today by presenting for approval the broad policy that would guide tolling.
“So, that local people, states, local governments, all those who manage roads, investors who want to come in, will know what our tolling policy is.
“And that will form the basis of their financial modeling, their investments decision.
“When will they start? Tolls will not start until the roads are motorable; there will be agreements that have to be in place; negotiated with government through the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.’’
Fashola presented some of the highlights that would be adopted in the tolling policy.
He said that an open tolling policy would be adopted as opposed to a closed tolling policy.
“The difference is that on the open tolling policy which is what we are used to before, you pay toll at barrier over a fixed or pre-determined distance.
“Closed tolls system means that you pay tolls over the distance you travel and the size of your vehicle; we have not that operated before; so, we are going back to what we know.
“We also approved that consultations must be done; willingness to pay; surveys must be done before specific roads are tolled.’’
He said that the council also approved that only dual carriage ways out the 35, 000 kilometres of road should be eligible for tolling by the Federal Government.
The minister noted that dual carriageways represented only 5,050 kilometres out of 35, 000 kiliometres.
“We also got approval that the tolls will be used to maintain the roads; to construct new road as they accrue and also to pay the investors who invest in building or completing a road and then take a concession on it.’’
According to him, a process of largely electronic collection and management system for audit and transparency will be adopted.
He said, however, that there would be some cash payments at the very minimum; and hopefully, phased out as the process progressed.
Fashola said that it was proposed and council approved that certain types of vehicles be exempted from paying tolls.
“Those are bicycles, pedal cycles, tricycles, motorcycles and that modes of two or three wheeled transport used mainly by disadvantaged members of our community.
“They will be entitled to full 100 per cent exemption as well as diplomatic vehicles, military and paramilitary vehicles,’’ he said
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