Do you support the plan by Federal Government to return toll gates on Federal roads?

I am not in support of the re-introduction of toll gates in Nigeria, I also read about making it cashless. How can the government make tollgates cashless when there is no electricity to run electronic transaction machines? Unless they want to utilize battery operated machines which is unworkable in Nigeria, not to even talk about the conditions of Nigeria roads. I will be glad to pay tolls where the roads are ten lanes and free of potholes and where there are first responders to assist in case of emergency. I want us to know that when roads are tolled in the western world, there are alternative routes that are also well maintained so if one does not want to pay the toll gate, you use the alternative route. For example, there is Lekki toll and another road should be provided as its alternative. So, I think our leaders should also have dealt with the alternatives at the same time so the road users have a choice. If the roads are good and safe, motorist will not hesitate to pay toll gates. And if the government can make working POS available with proper monitoring, the cashless idea would be good because it will minimize corruption and stealing of the cash and also, it will help security agents to know and trace road users in case of accident, kidnapping , robbery and other crimes or incidents.

I am not in support of it and I condemn and reject the re-introduction of toll gates on Federal roads across the country. What the government is actually telling the world is that the revenue generation has fallen drastically and they are looking for ways to repair the bad roads they have left to Nigerians due to bad governance.

Is this the way to solve the country financial problem or way to keep taking away from the common man? The minimum wage of N30,000 is yet to be implemented. Cost of leaving in Nigeria is over the roof, no water, no electricity, even the so called Federal roads that are death trap are going to be tolled. If the government is serious of solving its financial problem, why can’t they cut the salary and allowance of all level of political post in the country; from Local Government Chairman, Counsellors, State governors, State and Federal Senators and House members to use the money for the country’s basic needs. I want us to know that the hardship and unemployment among the youth is the main reason behind the kidnapping and robbery going on severely in the country today.

Why are our leaders always quick to introduce things in Nigeria? What benefit did Nigeria get in the first decade toll? All these funds have been going into the looters pocket. There are lot of things that should benefit the ordinary people that should have been put in place for the growth of the country. I can remember the government removed it during the time of Obasanjo to introduce fuel tax, what happened to the money added to the price of fuel for fuel tax (for maintenance of roads)? Is government going to reduce the price of fuel to re-introduce toll gate? We need explanation on this.

I am happy about the decision because I can remember the Federal Government was not getting much return before the toll gates were scrapped by President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. I would say the idea is laudable, perhaps, if the fund would be used for the purpose of maintaining the roads, but my fear is as time goes on, it would further add to the burden of the masses.

I am in support of it because it will provide socio-economic benefits. First,  it will help create additional job opportunities within the economy; it will serve as another means through which the government will be generating additional revenue; it will also help improve on the security operations on the highways by curtailing some easy means of kidnappers’ navigation and some other similar criminal activities. As a matter of fact, toll gates daily operations will most likely complement the security operations on the highways thus encouraging a greater density of road users. So, the idea of Federal Government re-introducing toll gates is actually a welcome development especially now that the Nigeria’s economy really needs radical revival.

Re-introducing toll gates on any Federal road not properly rehabilitated and improved will be crossing the red line. This means the government would be stretching the people too much financially. I feel Fashola’s explanation on the reason for the re-introduction is too lame. He should show me one road that he has finished under his tenure that justifies his finishing designs on the toll plazas! This government will lose mine and many other people’s support should they proceed with this plan.

I remember during the administration of Obasanjo when the toll gate was stopped. Without due consultations, they went ahead and demolished all the toll gates at astronomical cost. Many well-meaning citizens, especially technocrats kicked against it. At that time, I remember I mentioned it to a friend that it was a matter of time another administration will come and rebuild them. Here we are. Come to think of it, why is building toll gates more important than constructing and maintaining those roads. What was spent building and demolishing the previous toll gates was more than adequate to ensure all federal inter-state roads were dualized and maintained. We have wicked leaders who know what is right to do but will not, for selfish reasons.

I am in support of it, we need it to generate Inland Revenue for the country but my concern is that the roads are not good enough to introduce toll fees. The last time I travelled by road from Ibadan to Abuja, in fact you can notice crossing from state to state which is very disgraceful. The road at Okene, Lokoja, Akure bypass are terrible. So if the roads are rehabilitated and safe for motorist, toll fees will generate huge revenue for government and payment with no cash is a good idea because it will reduce corruption.

Everybody knows the advantages of toll gates in any country of the world but if you can recollect one of the reasons it was scrapped then was that the fees realized then went to wrong hands rather than the government. Now, the government want to re-introduce it and also make it go cashless, where will they get the electricity to run that system bearing in mind that most of those toll gates will be mounted in the outskirt of towns across the country. Do the main towns have electricity not to talk of electricity in those outskirts where the toll gates will be mounted? And that is why Fashola himself could not mutter any reason for returning tollgates because same would be easily countered by reasonable Nigerians who know how sick systems operates. If our bad roads and electricity are not fixed properly, then I do not see the need for the re-introduction of toll gates, the plan should be put on hold for now until the government do the needful.

It is a good idea and I am in support of this plan if we want our country to move forward and grow like other advanced countries. I believe this re-introduction will create employment, generate revenue, help security situation and beautify the country. It is an eyesore to cross almost seven states with no border, toll gates. Also, this plan is long overdue but our President has been busy running after specific looters. Money repatriation cannot help the economy nor create employment but things that generate revenue for the country can help the situation Nigeria is currently in.

There is nothing wrong introducing toll gates on Federal roads but the government must be accountable with the process by ensuring toll collected are regularly published and the use of the tolls are exclusively for maintenance of the road. We all like what we see when we visit developed countries, but what we often fail to notice is how much taxes the citizenry of those countries are paying – it ranges from 30% to as much as 50% of income in some of the more extreme cases. Truth is you will pay one way or the other, either you pay the taxes upfront or you pay your mechanic later. Be it direct or in-direct taxation, Nigerians at some point are going to have to make a choice between the burden of taxes or dilapidated infrastructure.