Picture Credit: BBC
Transporters and labor unions have strongly condemned the reintroduction of highway tolls, arguing that the policy will exacerbate the economic challenges faced by Nigerians. The National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have expressed their concerns, stating that the tolls will lead to a rise in transportation and food costs.
The reintroduction of tolling began on Tuesday on the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi Expressway, a 227.2-kilometer road that is among nine expressways set to be tolled by the Federal Government. Other roads on the tolling list include the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano Road, and Makurdi-9th Mile Road.
The tolls, which are part of Phase I of the Highways Development and Management Initiative, were flagged off by Works Minister David Umahi. The toll fees for vehicles include N500 for saloon cars, N800 for sports utility vehicles (SUVs), N1,000 for minibuses, and N1,600 for articulated vehicles. Commercial light vehicles will enjoy a 50% discount, while motorcycles and other two- or three-wheeled transport will be exempt from tolls with 100% discount.
The tolling is part of a loan agreement with the China Exim Bank, which financed the rehabilitation of the road. Revenue generated from the tolls will be used to repay the loan.
While the government sees tolling as a necessary step to ensure sustainable infrastructure development, many stakeholders in the transport sector and labor unions are skeptical. Mallam Garba, the Chairman of NARTO in Jigawa, expressed concerns that the tolls would significantly raise transportation costs, leading to higher prices for goods and services. He urged the government to reconsider, stating that the current economic conditions are not conducive for such a policy.
Sanusi Maigatari, Chairman of the Jigawa State chapter of the NLC, also criticized the tolling policy, describing it as an additional burden on the public, already struggling with high costs of living. He warned that tolling would increase costs and reduce competitiveness, resulting in job losses and worsening inequality in the country.
Other transport leaders, including Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammad of NURTW and Amaobi Ohaeri of NARTO in Abia, echoed similar concerns. They called for improved road infrastructure before tolling and suggested a more gradual implementation of the tolls, starting with major highways.
The TUC, through an anonymous official, also expressed opposition, urging the government to explore alternative solutions for road maintenance without imposing further economic strain on citizens.
However, some transporters, like Tiwalade Akingbade of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Ogun State, welcomed the tolling initiative, provided the charges are reasonable. He emphasized that funds generated from tolling should be properly used for road maintenance to prevent unnecessary expenses on vehicle repairs due to poor road conditions.
With the government planning to expand tolling across the country, the debate on its impact on the transport sector and the broader economy continues, with many calling for careful consideration of the timing and fairness of the policy.