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HAVE YOUR SAY
DIS GENERATION
THE NATION ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2011
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HE Federal Government has announced its readiness to bring back the toll gates on major highways belonging to it. It will be recalled that the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo was responsible for the demolition of the toll gates on the excuse that less than the generated amount at the collection points was remitted into government’s purse. Expectedly, Nigerians have started speaking to the issue of reintroduction of toll gates. Below are some of the views expressed on the plan. The idea may not be too bad if the “Nigerian factors” can be curbed. But has the errors of the past been mended? If the implementation is properly planned that the ordinary commuters will not be burdened, that the products of the programme will not end up in private purses, that the roads will be properly maintained, that the usual cartels will not take over the proceeds and, that it will holistically be pursued, then so be it. But what will the Federal Government ever do free of charge for the citizenry? Akinduro, H.O., Okitipupa, Ondo State. Toll is good, but let not touts, hoodlums and police use it as a base to extort money from innocent people. Obadiah Victor, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Toll gates for what? The government has no focus. What does the government plan to do with oil subsidy money? This is a clear agenda to make the poor poorer. Bamidele Baiwa, Nasarawa Town, Nasarawa State. Bringing back the toll gate is the worst thing in recent time. The Federal Government wants to milk poor Nigerians to the last blood in our vein. Akinleye H.O., Ipole-Iloro, Ekiti State. The idea is good if it is objectively done, but from past experience it was a disaster that is ready to happen. Omotayo Olatubosun, Ijebu-ode, Ogun State. I suggest that it should be brought back in a modified form. Monies collected should be used to repair that trunk. Secondly, security men should be by the side and not road block to check the menace of armed thief. Dr Oliver J Nzalak, ABU Zaria, Kaduna State. If the decision will help make our present death traps called roads motorable, then it is a welcome development. But if not, then forget it. Yinka Afolabi, Minna, Niger State. It is a pity that Nigeria has no clean policy. Each government that comes in comes out with unsustainable policy. I would like to know the so-called reasons which made president Obasanjo’s government to remove toll gates on our roads. To me, government should not create additional wealth for some people. No need to reintroduce toll gate on our roads. J. Musa, Ilorin, Kwara State. Bringing back toll gates is another way of enriching the relatives and cronies of those in government, as it is only them that will be employed as toll collectors who will turn round to print toll receipts to be given to the unsuspecting motorists. So, it will be 40% to the government and 60% into their private pockets. Jamike Udeh,
What is your view about the plan to bring back toll gates to Federal roads? Agbani, Enugu State. The removal of Nigeria’s toll gates was Obasanjo’s first and biggest ill-informed decisions. Wellmanaged toll gates are vital infrastructures in any developed(ing) system. An efficient and effective toll system provides support funds for road development and maintenance, employment, highway emergency response stations/security. They attract development of satellite communities around them. I’m yet to understand the reason they were ever removed in the first place. Please we need them back, ASAP! Ekene Akanisi, Wuse Zone1, Abuja. The plan to bring back the toll gates on our roads will be a welcome development provided funds generated are not taken to personal bank accounts of the managers of such funds, which has become a normal way of doing things in this country. Audu Onmikpa, Abuja. Bringing back toll gates to federal roads is a welcome idea. It will provide job opportunity for the youths and be a source of revenue to the nation provided the employee will be honest with the system. Mrs Ogundana A., Yemi College of Education Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Bringing back toll gates is a good idea because the money realised will help to maintain our federal raods which are in worst condition. But will corrupt ones among the fee collectors not connive with motorists to enrich their pockets? God-fearing ones should be made to man the toll gates. Nigerians will enjoy it. Ozor Cletus, S/Abubakar Road, Sokoto State. It is consistent with the policy inconsistency and deceit of Nigerian governments. When Gen. Obasanjo destroyed the toll gates, he told us that 1.50 naira of refined petroleum products sold would be used for road maintenance. Considering the costs of destroying the toll gates and the proposed reconstruction, it is obvious that government is an economic adversary to the Nigerian people. Dr Emmanuel Irabor, Benin City, Edo State. My opinion about the plan to bring back toll gates to federal roads is that it is a welcome development because it will bring employment to the youths and tackle poverty. Abdullahi S. Hameed, Umuahia, Abia State. Toll gates on federal roads are okay, provided ALL road users including government vehicles pay. Most importantly, the proceeds should be used to maintain the roads. Akpan Emmanuel, Enugu State. If the Federal Government can transform the roads from the death traps that they are to those deserving of civilized Nigerians that we all yearn it to be, I will support tolling of the roads. But definitely not before! May common sense be manifestly seen to prevail! Kayode A, Abeokuta, Ogun State. I am in full support of the plan to bring back toll gates to federal roads, but without politics. That will help FERMA in road mainte-
•Minister of Transport Senator Idris Umar
nance. The EFCC should be involved. Philip Adamu, U/Yelwa Television, Kaduna State. There is nothing bad in bringing back the toll gate. But the question is why were they removed in the first instance? If they were closed due to corrupt managers, has the government got another method of collecting the tolls? If these questions have positive answers, let the gates be brought back. Sunday Adeniyi, Osun State. One of the major causes of underdevelopment is the inability of government to identify the real economic, social and political needs of its citizens and the inconsistency with which government policies towards combating identified problems are being implemented. It is totally inconceivable that after spending billions of Naira to dismantle the toll gates constructed all over the country with billions of Naira, government is contemplating bringing back same on federal roads. This is characteristic and symbolic of an institution devoid of concrete ideas and in-depth knowledge of the actual problems of the nation. Olaniran Afolabi A., Benin City, Edo State. Toll gates are extremely essential because it serves as back up for security purpose in my own perception, and also generates revenue for government. Tunji Salami, Ilorin, Kwara State. Re-introducing toll gate in Nigeria is a total waste of revenue. It is supposed to be a job creation, but in Nigeria it is a creation of another chance for people to create wealth. I know very well that after everything is said and done, it will be handed over to their main man to handle where no kobo will be paid into the Federation Account. I am of the view that the toll gate should remain scrapped. Augustine A. Ozor, Sango Ota, Ogun State. Toll gates are a part of security. I think with toll gates it will be impossible for people to carry arms about. Osume Samson, Delta State. OBJ destroyed t e toll gates. Now, GEJ wants to bring them back. Another billion will be spent in putting them back. The PDP is asking for a revolution in this coun-
try. What kind of nonsense is this for goodness sake? Otunba Bola, Abuja. Nigerians are not scared of taxes, but our leaders are not accountable to us as the custodians of our commonwealth; the more the taxes the more the poverty. Abiodun Balogun, Offa, Kwara State. Bringing back toll gates to federal roads is good only if all the federal roads can first be extended from two lanes (one side) to a minimum of four lanes and rehabilitation carried out effectively, mostly on Lagos-Ibadan Road; SagamuBenin Road; Ibadan-Ife Road. Else, forget it! Banjo Oluwasegun Joseph, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. There is nothing bad in bringing back toll gates to federal roads. It must be after proper reconstruction of the roads to make it very very motorable. Apart from that “No way” . Ade Sowemimo, Sagamu Remo, Ogun State. It shows the level of inconsistency of our leaders. It shows the state of confusion the country is in. We wonder what would be the state of the nation in 10 years time if the country still exists. Alagbawi, Ibadan, Oyo State. The toll gate is a good idea only if the primary aim will be met: (1) Maintenance of the road; (2) curtailing robbers on our highways; (3) emergence of emergencies services on our highways. Ugwuodo Shanka Iyke, Enugu State. Toll gates federal roads should not be brought to back. They are drainpipes. Lanre Oseni, Lagos State. Toll gate fees are one of the many ways government generates revenue for maintenance. This to me is not a bad idea at all. But the fear of embezzlement is my concern. It is another way of siphoning public wealth. Tunde Olayemi, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. To even think about it shows that government has no modicum of respect for the citizens and their feelings. I’m of the view that Nigerians should resolve to make Jonathan the last of these irresponsible leaders by chasing him out like Egyptians did. Toll gate is not what we need now. I think the current minister is looking for his own loot. Kunle Abbas, Ogba Lagos State. May God have mercy on our leaders! So After spending billions of naira to demolish the toll gates, yet another billion will be spend to construct them again all in less than a decade? Danjuma Emmanuel, Adi. Bringing toll gates back to federal roads is a way of bringing back untold hardship on Nigerian masses that ARE already PAUPPERISED by government’s bad policies. This “job for the boys” will bring about astronomical increase in Transport Fare which in turn will affect the masses the more. Femi Hassan. Continued on The Nation website: www.thenationlineng.net, click on Sunday Magazine, then Have Your Say
By Jennifer Ehidiamen 08054503875 (Sms only)
Thank you Mr Patrick for teaching me about trust
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AST week, I was almost murmuring about why Nigerians love public holidays so much. Actually, I did enjoy my holiday. Well, until I ran out of Internet access and realised my work will be left unattended to if I did not renew my subscription immediately. The office of the Internet provider also observed the public holiday so there was no way out. Or so I thought. My good friend, Chinwe, suggested to drive through Starcomms office to see if the retail distributors were available. But then, she had a better idea- to call one of them and find out where he was. Mr Patrick, one of the distributors confirmed what we already knew- all the retail shops were closed. Now, if you reside in Abuja you’ll understand how shutdown the city looked during this holiday; even though it was supposed to be a festive one. The fear of Boko Haram sent “everyone” indoors. To cut the long story short, Mr Patrick offered to recharge my line. He has never met me yet he was willing to take the risk. He said that he would renew my Internet subscription and collect the money after the holiday. Within a few minutes, my Internet access was restored. I met Mr. Patrick the following day to make my payment. Out of curiosity, I asked if he did that often. He showed me a notebook with numbers of people who subscribe through him. Just a phone call and bam! he plays his role while they play theirs. Trust and honesty is the watchword. I began to imagine what our society would look like if we had more of Mr Patrick and the people who do business with him in Nigeria. More honest Nigerians. More transparent Nigerians. More people of integrity. More selfless people. More people who are willing to think good of others irrespective of their tribe or family background. The socio-economic situation is not looking good in Nigeria. But you know, a change in attitude and action will change everything. We blame Goodluck Jonathan for things wrong in Nigeria. The meat seller who cheats others in the market blames the government. The religious leaders who brainwash their followers and stir up religious crisis blame the government. The teachers and others active in public service that collect bribe also have the guts to blame the government. The uncles and fathers who abuse the girls and women in their care blame the government.The employer who exploits the employees in his organization blames the government. I am not a saint. I also blame the government when things really suck. But I realize the day we stop the blame game and start acting responsibly will be is the day Nigeria will start working. In a nutshell, if we all can take out the log in our eyes before trying to take out the plank in our government leaders’ eyes, NIGERIA will be fine. Our government leaders misbehave because they know some of us are easily swayed by empty promises. But that too has to change. In case your path crosses with that of Mr Patrick in future- tell him thank you, again, for trusting and showing me that we can start by trusting each other to change Nigeria. He reminded me that Nigeria is not a big geographical location far from our sphere. Nigeria is you and I. Our attitude to one another have a rippling effect on the way the government leaders perceive us. Be the change you want to see in Nigeria- this is not a cliche.