By Dipo Olowookere
Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has said plans were ongoing to return toll gates across federal roads in the country. The former Governor of Lagos State made this disclosure on Wednesday while briefing newsmen on outcome of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Wednesday.
Mr Fashola said federal government was currently working on how the toll plazas would be modelled, pointing out that this move was to ensure that the roads were properly maintained and kept in good shape for the benefits of motorists and other users.
According to him, plans to put the toll gates on the federal highways were already at an advanced stage, stressing that there was no law that stopped government from returning toll gates on the roads, adding that this time, instead of cash payment, there might be need for electronic mode of payment.
“There is no reason why we can’t toll, there was a policy of government to abolish tolls or as it where, dismantle toll plaza but there is no law that prohibit tolling in Nigeria today.
“We expect to return toll plazas, We have concluded their designs of what they will look like, what materials they will be rebuilt with, what new considerations must go into them.
“What we are looking at now and trying to conclude is how the bank end runs,” the Minister said.
The FEC meeting held today at the at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa Abuja, was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari before his departure to South Africa for a crucial meeting with his counterpart, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa.
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Adedapo Adesanya