Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-political group of the Igbo tribe, has expressed dissatisfaction over the intention of the Federal Government to place a toll on the newly opened 2nd Niger Bridge.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Publicity Secretary of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Alex Ogbonnia, has said that such a move would dent Buhari’s regime.
According to Ohanaeze, the Minister for Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, had said the temporarily opened bridge would be tolled for the purpose of maintenance.
Consequently, Ogbonnia faulted the proposed tolling of the bridge, saying public funds were used to provide long-awaited service to the people.
“It will amount to ‘impoverishment’ to toll the bridge. Is there any other highway in Nigeria where there is a toll gate? So, this is strange. It is like imposing unnecessary taxation on the people.”
“You see today, everywhere you go, you will meet one checkpoint or the other. Checkpoints are like toll gates, they collect money from people.”
“These corrupt military or security personnel collecting money from the public and now the government is setting up another toll gate, all these things are a punishment to the populace.”
“There is no other toll gate in any other part of Nigeria except this one that they are proposing. They won’t be able to reconcile their rationale for a toll gate. It is not proper,” he said.
It is important to note that what the Minister said, was to confirm the presence of tolling points on the bridge, but however said that would only take effect after the government comes up with a policy.
