Do You Know Tolling Is Officially Back On Nigerian Highways?

By David Adetula

Image Credit: Science Capsules

Apart from the Lekki toll gate that everyone seems to be very familiar with, many Nigerians who live outside Lagos State and own a car may not have experienced tolling in at least the last decade. But now, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has finally approved a new Federal Tolling Policy that would see vehicle owners who ply certain highways part with some money. 

On Wednesday, 11th August 2021, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital & New Media, Tolu Ogunlesi highlighted ten (10) things to note in the new Federal Tolling Policy. According to Ogunlesi, these things were shared by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola , SAN in a press conference after Wednesday's Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting where the policy was approved. 

1. It will be an Open Tolling system (just like the one that used to be in existence in the country), instead of a Closed Tolling system. (A Closed Tolling system means that you pay per distance traveled (‘distance-dependent’), while Open Tolling means you pay a fixed/flat rate that is not dependent on distance traveled) 

2. Only dual carriageways owned by the Federal Government will be eligible for tolling by the Federal Government. (Of the 35,000km of Federal Roads in existence in the country, only 5,050km are dual carriageway). Federal carriageways that are single, i.e. undivided highways will not be tolled. The only exceptions here will be some bridges, which are listed in the Policy.  

3. Toll Revenues will be used to maintain the roads and also to repay investors who have invested in building or completing a road under the Highway Development Management Initiative (HDMI).  

4. Electronic Toll Collection and Management systems will be prioritized over Cash systems.  

5. The following will be exempted from Tolling: Bicycles, Tricycles, Motorcycles, Diplomatic vehicles, Military and Paramilitary vehicles.  

6. The Tolling Policy is a broad National framework that will serve as a guide for States and Local Governments who seek to implement their own Tolling Policies. (As noted earlier, only about 16% of the total road network in Nigeria belongs to the Federal Government. States own/control roughly the same amount as the FG, while the rest - amounting to two-thirds are last-mile roads belonging to and under the responsibility of Local Governments).  \

7. People who live around Toll Plaza Areas will benefit from what is called ‘Frequent User’ discounts, in line with global best practice.  

8. Recommended Tolling Fees in the Approved Policy and Regulations are as follows:  

Cars: N200  

SUVs: N300  

Private Buses: N300  

Commercial Buses: N150  

Luxury Buses and Trucks: N500  

9. According to the Honorable Minister, the Federal Highways Act vests the power to toll (Federal Roads) in the Minister responsible for roads, but implementation of any tolling policy/regime involves many processes and multiple agencies, and therefore requires multi-stakeholder collaboration.  

10. According to the Minister, it is important to stress that even with this policy now approved, tolling is not going to start immediately. He very clearly said that Tolling will not start “until the roads are motorable.” This policy is a necessary condition for the implementation of Tolling, and it is now for people to start getting familiar with it and for relevant stakeholders to start using it as a basis for their financial modeling and investment analysis, ahead of the eventual rollout of Toll Plazas. 

While the implementation of this development would be greeted with various reactions, it is expedient to ask questions as to the management structure that the federal government is putting in place for these toll points. If this is not carefully and strategically done, these toll points would only turn out to be another cashing out points for those in charge.