Nasarawa Assembly Canvasses Toll Gate Fee Reduction, Unified System

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has called on the federal government and management of Toll Gate Operation in the State to reduce toll gate fee to the barest minimum.

 

The House also called for single or one payment throughout the toll gates for a trip considering the hardship the people are facing while plying the road linking Keffi, Akwanga, Lafia to Makurdi.

 

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, made the call when Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi, member representing Kokona East constituency brought the issue under the matter of public interest during the House proceedings in Lafia.

 

The Speaker also called on the federal government and the management of the toll gate operation to improve on its e-payment services or have alternative payment means, if its operations would be sustained in the State.

 

“I am happy with your positive contributions as our people are suffering as a result of payment system in the toll gate.

 

“We want to appeal to His Excellency, Engr. A A Sule to go to the Federal Ministry of Works with the following resolutions.

 

” We want the management of Toll Gates to make provision for toll tickets in designated motor parks and other places for easy payment.

 

” We want them to provide alternative way of payment as some of our people don’t have ATM cards.

 

” Captured vehicles can make cash payment. There should be a room for cash payment in the toll gates, through capturing of vehicles that will make the cash payments.

 

” Payment in the toll gate should be done once instead of paying in all toll gates that you passed through,” he noted.

 

According to him, if the management of the toll gate operation will not ensure effective and efficient in its operation as well as abide by our resolution, we call for its suspension in the State until all emerging issues and challenges are addressed.

 

Speaker Jatau commended President Tinubu and Ministry of Works for provision of roads and other infrastructure in the country.

 

The Speaker also appreciated Gov. Abdullahi Sule for his developmental strides and other services to the people of the State.

 

Honourable Daniel Ogah Ogazi, member representing Kokona East Constituency while moving the motion said that the activities of the toll gate has created and is still creating serious hardship to the people plying the road.

 

He called for the suspension of the toll gates operation in the state, if the management would not address the challenges being faced by the people in their toll gates.

 

“This toll gate has created traffic Jamp and our people are suffering as a result of the payment system. The Automated Tolling Payment System is not working effectively and efficiently.

 

“They should make payment in the toll gate in a way that it would not affect the lives of our people.

 

“I want to tell you that a woman delivered at the toll gate as a result of time wasting due to payment system,” he said.

 

Ogazi also said that there should be cash system in the toll gate the way it is done in Airport.

 

Also contributing, Hon Hudu A Hudu, Barr Esson Mairiga, Hon John Ovey, Hon Solomon Yakubu Akwashiki, Hon Mohammed Omadefu, Hon Onarigu Onah Kana, Hon Luka Iliya Zhekaba and Rt. Hon Mohammad Adamu Oyanki, the Deputy Speaker all lamented on how the operation of the toll gate is affecting the lives of the people plying the road negatively.

 

They said that the toll gate operation has created hardship to the people of the state.

 

They called for reduction in the toll gate fee, single payment system and efficient and effective payment in the toll gate.

 

Lateefah Ibrahim