Ogun State Government has announced the beginning of tolling on Epe-Mojoda-Ijebu-Ode Expressway, starting from March 24, for the purpose of sustainable road maintenance, efficient operations, as well as enhanced road safety.
The 14.7km road had been in a poor state of repair for many years, making it a dangerous and unsatisfactory route for commuters.
However, the Governor Dapo Abiodun administration rebuilt the road into a modern expressway with up to date facilities, including toll booths.
In a statement yesterday, the Director-General, Office of the Public-Private Partnerships, Dapo Oduwole, said the reason for not tolling the road immediately upon its opening for use, despite its Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, was predicated on the magnanimity of Prince Abiodun and his resolve to make life comfortable for the people of the state.
The statement said the governor considered the expressway as a strategic corridor for economic activities between Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos and Ogun State; hence, the urgency for its completion.
The Director-General further said road users could comfortably ply the road without hindrance of any form, as necessary amenities were provided to make it one of the best in the country.
“Governor Abiodun, upon assumption of office and in the course of designing an effective and efficient transport system that will boost the micro-economy of the state, discovered the economic importance of Epe-Mojoda-Ijebu-Ode expressway.
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“The government had opted for a Public Private Partnership arrangement in the management of the asset, including the collection of tolls. The government magnanimously delayed tolling on that road since 2021 to provide some reliefs to residents and other road users.
“Meanwhile, while considering the interests of the people, we must also take into cognisance the economic interests of the investors for us to strike a balance, hence the need to commence tolling on the road after about four years of using it free of any charge.
“It is pertinent to note that some road users have been exempted from this tolling obligation. These include emergency response vehicles such as ambulances, fire service and patrol vehicles.
“Others are government-owned security vehicles, Ogun State Government official vehicles and others as determined by the Ogun State Government.
“We, therefore, urge all road users to comply with these tolling regulations, as enforcement measures will be implemented to the fullest without fear or favour,” the statement said.