Nasarawa State Lawmakers Urge Reduction in Toll Fees to Ease Driver Hardships

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has called on the state’s toll gate administration to lower toll prices, citing the challenges faced by road users due to high fees.

During Monday’s session in Lafia, Hon. Daniel Ogazi (APC, Kokona East) raised the issue as a matter of public interest, prompting Speaker Danladi Jatau to urge the toll gate management to review its pricing.

The current toll fees, ranging between ₦500 and ₦800, were described as excessive, with lawmakers emphasizing the need for affordable and efficient toll gate operations.

Recommendations for Toll Gate Improvements

Speaker Jatau proposed several resolutions to improve toll gate operations:

• Prepaid Toll Tickets – Tickets should be made available at designated motor parks for easy payment.
• Alternative Payment Methods – Options should include cash payments, as not all drivers use ATM cards.
• Single Toll Payment Per Route – Drivers should not have to pay at multiple toll gates along the same journey.

“We appreciate the contributions of our members. Our people are struggling with the payment system at the toll gates. If the management does not improve operations, we may demand their suspension,” Jatau stated.

Hon. Ogazi highlighted that the automated toll system has not been functioning efficiently, leading to traffic congestion and frustration among road users.

He recommended that a manual cash payment system, similar to those used at airports, be introduced alongside the automated system for greater convenience.

According to NAN, all lawmakers who spoke during the session acknowledged the difficulties faced by drivers, reinforcing the need for urgent improvements in the toll gate system.