RE-INTRODUCTION OF TOLL-GATE IS ‘ANTI-PEOPLE’ (EXCLUSIVE)
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Demilade Tiwo
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The minister for Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, in a statement on Wednesday said that the Federal Government has concluded designs of toll plazas which would soon be mounted on all federal roads around the country.
According to him the money generated from the tolls would be used in maintaining the roads.Well, this appear not be sitting well with some concerned Nigerians as some opine that the move is really not necessary.
The Convener of Concerned Nigerians (CN) a civil society organization, Prince Deji Adeyanju, said the plan is “Anti-people”.
He mentioned that the federal government does not mean well for the citizens of the nation because if they do, they wouldn’t be devising new plans of ripping off on the masses.
Speaking from an emotional angle, he said the government had already increased income tax, value added tax, and every other tax and it is still coming up with a mode of increasing transportation tax.
Actually, Tolls on Federal roads were demolished in 2003 during the administration of Former President Olusegun Obasanjo. he made the move due to the fact that he considered the toll gates spreading across Nigeria as something of a Nuisance and a medium of causing more discomfort to already groaning Nigerians, so why bring back tolls?
The Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Ibrahim Musa also said that Nigeria lacks policy consistency and seriousness. According to him the FG must work hand in hand with the State Government to ensure that the Federal roads are maintained accurately.
Another concerned Nigerian Victor Shodunke while speaking with Hotjist.com said that the Government needs to tax themselves before thinking of “Multi-taxing” poor citizens.
“Many of these so called leaders collect salaries in millions, and yet they still cannot sacrifice their salaries to make good roads . and still they plan on rebuilding toll gates to enrich their pockets. that is just sheer selfishness and no car for the citizens” he told Hotgist.com.
He also pointed to the fact that on normal days when the road is still without toll gates, they have series of heavy traffic jam on the Federal roads not to speak of adding toll “Double Traffic” he said.
This administration need to pay more attention to that section of the Nigerian society that accuses it of caring more about its runners than it does for the welfare of the ordinary people, as it seems the masses are the ones mostly called upon to make sacrifices whenever the need arises.
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