TheCable

The federal government has warned that the collection of tolls on federal highways is illegal.

In a notice by Bashiru Alkali, permanent secretary of the federal ministry of works and housing, the government said it has not authorised anyone to collect tolls on federal highways.

It, therefore, warned that anyone caught in the illegal act would be prosecuted.

“The attention of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has been drawn to the Illegal Collection of Tolls from Federal Highways at Atoyo, Ogere, Ijebu-Ode junction, Shagamu, Randa and other locations in Ogun State,” the notice reads.

“Members of the public should note that the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has not authorized any person(s), company or organization to collect tolls on Federal Highways on its behalf in Ogun State or in any of the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

“The Ministry by this notice wishes to advise perpetrators of this act who are defrauding members of the public by collecting tolls from Highway users in Ogun State or any part of Nigeria to desist from this illegal act in their own interest, and not to cause any burden to motorists.

“By this notice, perpetrators apprehended in this illegal act will be prosecuted in line with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo scrapped toll collection in 2003.

In 2019, the federal government said it was making plans to reintroduce toll collection on federal highways.

Babatunde Fashola, minister of works and housing, had said there was no law against toll plazas in the country.

Then in 2021, the minister announced that the federal executive council (FEC) had approved the return of toll gates on some selected dual carriage highways in the country.

Fashola had said the tolling would begin after the roads had been fixed.