OKECHUKWU NNODIM
The Federal Government will on Monday meet with stakeholders from various sectors of the economy to discuss the reintroduction of toll gates on Nigerian highways.
It was gathered that the government had contacted stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, manufacturers, transporters, the academia, among others, and as it sets to return toll gates to selected roads across the country.
Also, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, announced on Saturday that two construction companies, Reynolds Construction Company and Julius Berger, were still in charge of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway rehabilitation.
Officials of the ministry told SUNDAY PUNCH that the minister would also discuss other developments in the road sector with the stakeholders on Monday, stressing that the introduction of tolls on highways was one key issue that would be discussed.
An official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Fashola will be hosting the academia, petroleum and gas workers, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, cement manufacturers, transporters and other stakeholders.
“The meeting is going to be a one-day enlightenment forum on developments in the road sector. It is aimed at addressing issues concerning weigh bridges, signage and more importantly, the return of toll gates to highways, amidst other issues.”
When asked to provide updates on the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the minister, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Communications, Hakeem Bello, explained that RCC and Julius Berger were working on different locations on the road.
He said, “I have confirmed that both RCC and Julius Berger are both on site, working on the Ibadan-Sagamu and Sagamu-Lagos sections respectively.”
Fashola had, in November last year, announced the planned reintroduction of tolls on major highways when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency and stated that 38 points had been identified in the first phase of the re-introduction.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: theeditor@punchng.com
source http://punchng.com/fg-meets-stakeholders-on-new-toll-gates/
No comments:
Post a Comment