The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has announced that the Federal Government plans to toll all major roads across the country once construction and renovation are completed.

Speaking at an inter-ministerial press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary, Umahi said: “We are completing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and it will be tolled.”

He went on to list several roads, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Second Niger Bridge, the Abuja-Kano Road, and the Makurdi-9th Mile Road, as candidates for tolling. According to Umahi, the tolls would generate significant revenue for the government.

The former governor of Ebonyi State explained that private sector partners have been engaged to invest in the roads. “They will work with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Works to manage and toll these roads,” he added.

The minister said the Keffi-Makurdi Road, which has already been completed, will be the first to be tolled. He also noted that the government is working with the Ministry of Finance to implement a cashless toll payment system.

“As we complete projects like the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Makurdi to 9th Mile in Enugu State, we will toll them. But it’s not just about tolling; we want to build confidence in road users. We are introducing security measures, such as a 10-minute response time along the corridor and permanent solar lighting to ensure people can travel safely at night,” Umahi explained.

He stressed that the new administration, under President Bola Tinubu, is handling road development with a professional, investment-driven approach, inheriting 300 damaged roads and bridges. Further road construction is expected to commence on 1st October 2024, across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.