FERMA says toll gates will boost Nigeria’s revenue
In what seems a discourse to set the stage for the re-emergence of toll gates in the country, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, on Monday said the resuscitation of toll gates in the country would boost revenue generation to enable government repair federal roads.
The head of the agency in Osun State, Isaac Omojeingbesi, made this disclosure in an interview in Osogbo, the state captal.
He expressed support for a re-introduction of toll gates, saying the initiative would help generate more money for road maintenance as well as enhance government’s ability to repair bad roads across the country, a stance both the Federal and State Governments have always held.
But the re- introduction of toll gate fees has been nothing but disturbing for majority of road users who usually complain of the hazards of toll gates.
In Lagos State for instance, the Lekki toll gate fee, introduced by the state government, was greeted with animosity, with residents complaining that the amount of money they are made to part with is a rip off; and road users saying the traffic and the attendant health hazard the collection of money at the toll gate causes is heinous.
Mr. Omojeingbesi, however, said the re-introduction of toll gates could only achieve a set target if the private sector is allowed to partner with the Federal Government in the business; a stance, the federal and state governments have held.
Mr. Omojeingbesi said that when toll gates were initially being run by the government, it failed.
He said the situation changed when the initiative later became a private/public enterprise.
“When the private sector is involved, there will be efficient supervision, staff discipline, effective discharge of duties and a high level of profitability,” he explained.
The federal government under former President Olusegun Obasanjo abolished the existence of toll gates on federal roads.
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