FG set to revive weigh bridges —Fashola

The Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said, on Tuesday, that the Federal Government would reintroduce the use of weigh bridges on the nation’s highways.

Fashola made the disclosure while answering questions from newsmen at the ongoing Made in Nigeria (MAIN) Summit 2016, at the Eko Atlantic City in Lagos.

The minister said presently, the weigh bridges were not working optimally.

He, however, said government was repairing some of them and targeting making the roads motorable as the use of the weigh bridges would be subsequently enforced.

“The bridges are not in optimum use, but we are rehabilitating and re-installing some.

“You will see increased regulatory compliance on the roads as they return to motorable quality,’’ Fashola said.

Responding to the issue of re-introduction of toll gates, and financing of road projects, he said it was an issue that had to be decided by Nigerians.

He said tolling alone would not be able to finance road maintenance because of traffic variation on different routes.

“If you toll, it is usually best practice to provide an alternative route and, therefore, depending on how heavy the traffic is, people may choose to use the longer route in order to save money,’’ he said.

He explained that federal legislators were working on a bill that would “give some legislative framework for tolling.’’

Fashola added that government had begun creation of a road maintenance plan that targeted creation of jobs and business opportunities for small businesses, artisans and other professionals in the construction industry.