The Federal Government says it will adopt motorists’ friendly platforms, such as phones, smart cards and electronic cards on windscreen for toll payments.
Mr Chukwunwike Uzo, the Director of Highways, Planning and Development, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, made this known in in Abuja on Sunday.
The Government plans to re-introduce toll gates across the country.
Uzo said the idea was to make toll payment easy and reduce cash payment at toll gates.
According to him, the use of cash will not be totally eliminated, but will be reduced to the barest minimum to ensure that motorists are not delayed at toll gates.
He, however, said the toll gates would run as businesses to create employment for Nigerians.
“We are evaluating, studying and trying to map out all the facilities we need to put in those areas where we have toll plazas in the past.
“We are not looking at it only as toll plazas, but as a business venture, so that we can create employment for Nigerians.
“We want to set up facilities like mechanic workshops, restaurants, rest rooms and little motels to create employment for people living around the toll gates,” he said.
Uzo said the facilities would provide safe environment for travellers to fuel and stretch their legs before continuing their journeys.
He said that the reintroduction of toll gates was a government policy that would certainly be implemented on completed sections of federal roads.
“That is why we are monitoring road contractors, because government does not want to put toll gates on roads that are not in good conditions.
“The key thing is that driving from Lagos to Maiduguri, a distance of about 1,600km, without paying anything to maintain the road is not wise.
“There is no country that operates its roads like that.
“We have the biggest spread of road network in the sub-region and it is an asset that is expected to yield revenue,” he said. – VON.
