The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has explained why the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is tolling roads in the country.
The minister made the explanation while fielding questions from reporters at the eighth edition of the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing Session, held at the National Press Centre in Abuja.
The session was attended by the Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, and Umahi.
Umahi pointed out that the President wants to create an economy of $1 trillion and to promote local content.
“And I want to say that every worker in every ministry ought to keep to the same vision,” he said.
Speaking on what informed the tolling of Federal Government roads across the country, Umahi said that it was part of the contract for the roads to be tolled.
“Truly, the most important thing is not just building these roads. I’ve always said that in the past, we have built roads, but this is the only time that a President is constructing roads.
“None of the roads built in the past ever lasted up to 50 years as the roads keep falling.
“We have 35 kilometer of roads nationwide, and when you add the new Legacy Project, we’ll be looking at over 38 kilometers of road. It is difficult for Nigerians, you know, for budgetary provision of the funds of the federal government to complete all these roads.
“So, and that’s why we are doing HDMI. And of course, that is the PPP. So the idea is not only to get this road constructed, but to also maintain it. And so in the first week of June, we are going to go round and do stakeholders engagement and appeal to them when we have completed. Let us have it tolled.
“So that is what informs the reason for tolling. Not just to have the private sector participate just like in every other, you know, civilized country, but also ensure that they operate and maintain the roads.”
