Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago has called for a return of the toll gate regime due to the deplorable state of roads across the country.
Bago said this would ensure the enforcement of weight limits to avoid overloading and damaging of highways in the country.
The governor made the call when he visited the Director-General of the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), Mamman Ahmadu in his office in Abuja where he noted with dismay the continuous damage of roads by those involved in overloading trucks and articulated vehicles.
He said fees should be paid by road users for yearly maintenance of the roads stressing that he will present the issue to the leadership of the National Economic Council (NEC).
The governor also said he will personally inform NEC to consider having a National Policy on weighbridges considering the unregulated volume of content plying the roads in the country.
“Nigeria must resume the regime of toll gating, we cannot continue as a country to fix roads and the people who are into overloading will continue to damage our roads. So, people should pay monies for using road infrastructures so that the proceeds can be used to maintain the roads year in and year out again we will take it up with the National Executive Council leadership.
“I will also personally inform NEC on the need to have a national policy on weighbridge”, he said.
Governor Bago said his administration is poised to change the narrative as it affects infrastructural development in Niger state.
He disclosed that the state government will partner with the BPP in terms of providing a road map and training of procurement officers in the state to understand that transparent and efficient procurement practices are crucial for the growth and development of the state.
This, the governor explained will ensure that the citizens of the state receive the best value for their money and that public funds are spent prudently.
In his remarks, Ahmadu decried the poor state of road infrastructures in the state especially the federal roads despite the state having the largest landmass in the country and more spread of federal roads.
He said a lot needs to be done by both the federal and state governments in terms of road development.
While assuring the governor of his continued support to bring about the needed infrastructural development in the state, he called on the Governor to introduce a weighbridge to ensure proper regulation of the weight of goods carried by heavy-duty vehicles and ensure good road maintenance in the state.
The Governor was accompanied by some key government officials.
Credit: Punch
