The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to adopt Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for the rehabilitation, maintenance, and management of federal roads, while advocating the reintroduction of regulated toll gates to ensure sustainable funding, enhanced security, and improved infrastructure nationwide.
The motion, titled “Need to Concession the Rehabilitation, Maintenance and Management of Federal Roads to Private Investors and Reintroduce Toll Gates for Sustainable Road Infrastructure Development, Revenue Generation and Enhanced Security,” was co-sponsored by Hon. Esosa Iyawe, Hon. Olusola Fatoba, Hon. Abdulmaleek Danga, and Hon. Uche Okonkwo.
Addressing Critical Infrastructure Decay & Regional Economic Hardship
Presenting the motion, the sponsors highlighted the severe deterioration of federal road networks across Nigeria due to prolonged neglect, inadequate budgetary allocations, and the heavy impact of vehicular traffic. This decay has led to frequent accidents, loss of lives, heightened transportation costs, and persistent economic delays.
The House specifically noted the strategic importance of Edo State as a central transit corridor linking the South-South, South-East, South-West, and Northern regions. The deplorable state of key federal routes, particularly the Benin-Lagos, Benin-Asaba, Benin-Warri, and Benin-Okene corridors, has stifled commercial activities, inflated agricultural transport costs, discouraged investment, and placed severe economic burdens on commuters and host communities.
Reliance on annual budgetary allocations alone has proven insufficient for maintaining an extensive national road network. Partnering with private investors under transparent PPP frameworks will attract critical capital, technical expertise, and long-term management efficiency, relieving the direct financial burden on the Federal Government.
Reintroducing Regulated Toll Plazas for Revenue, Employment, and Security
To support long-term maintenance and investment recovery, the House advocated for the reintroduction of modern, technologically efficient, and affordable toll gates on newly rehabilitated federal highways.
The House emphasized that properly managed toll plazas will serve a multi-purpose role. It will create direct and indirect employment opportunities for host communities in toll administration, traffic management, maintenance, security, and ancillary services. Strategically located plazas, coordinated with national security agencies, will act as hubs for law enforcement presence, intelligence gathering, emergency response, and vehicular monitoring, without becoming points of extortion or harassment.
Furthermore, tolling must be supported by transparent economic assessments and enforceable service standards to guarantee motorists measurable improvements in road quality, travel time, and safety.
Following deliberations, the House officially resolved to:
Urge the Federal Ministry of Works to develop and implement a comprehensive national framework for concessioning eligible federal roads to competent private investors under transparent PPP arrangements, prioritizing major economic corridors and roads requiring urgent intervention.
Urge the Federal Ministry of Works, in collaboration with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), and other relevant stakeholders, to conduct a full assessment of the federal road network to identify suitable routes for concessioning, rehabilitation, and long-term maintenance.
Urge the Federal Ministry of Works to reintroduce toll gates on selected federal highways following substantial rehabilitation, ensuring toll rates are determined through transparent economic evaluations, public consultations, and affordability considerations.
Mandate the House Committees on Public Assets, Works, and Finance to engage all relevant agencies on the proposed framework, monitor its implementation, and report back to the House within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.
