Rights group condemns FG’s road toll policy, calls for suspension

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised the Federal Government’s plan to introduce tolls on additional federal roads, describing the move as a “toxic policy” that will worsen the economic burden on Nigerians.

HURIWA was reacting to the announcement by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, that major roads across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and key economic corridors would be tolled.

The group accused the government of exploiting citizens who are already grappling with rising costs of living. In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA highlighted the economic challenges Nigerians have faced since President Bola Tinubu assumed office. These include the removal of the fuel subsidy in May 2023, which caused petrol prices to surge from N190 to over N1,000 per litre, and the inflationary pressures that followed.

The group also criticised the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for approving a tariff hike from N66 to N225 per kilowatt-hour for Band A customers in April 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for allowing a 50 per cent increase in telecom charges. It added that soaring fuel prices and deteriorating roads have already doubled transportation costs across the country.

“The government has failed to provide basic social infrastructure but continues to impose policies that punish the masses. Poor Nigerians, who depend heavily on road transport, will suffer the most from this tolling policy,” HURIWA said.

The rights group also accused the government of enriching political allies and contractors through road concessions, rather than genuinely improving infrastructure. It argued that the absence of alternative transport systems such as functional railways or affordable air travel makes road tolling unjustifiable.

“This policy is pure wickedness,” HURIWA asserted, urging the Federal Government to suspend the tolling plan and focus on addressing corruption and mismanagement in the Ministry of Works to fund road maintenance.

HURIWA called for policies that alleviate, rather than exacerbate, the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.