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5% Road User Charge Could Trigger Major Fuel Price Surge — Nigerians Warned!
The prices of premium motor spirit (petrol) and automotive gas oil (diesel) may increase as the Federal Ministry of Works and the House of Representatives push for the implementation of a 5 percent road user charge to be included in fuel and diesel pricing.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
This development was disclosed during an investigative hearing held by the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Monday in Abuja. The Minister of State for Works, Mohammed Goroyo, stressed the urgent need for the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to enforce the collection of the 5 percent road user charge to address the funding gap for maintaining federal roads across the country.
Goroyo highlighted that Nigeria requires ₦800 billion annually for road maintenance, but the budget allocated to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has consistently been insufficient.
“FERMA needs approximately ₦880 billion each year to ensure roads remain in good condition. However, budgetary allocations have fallen short — ₦76.3 billion in 2023, ₦103.3 billion in 2024, and ₦168.9 billion projected for 2025. The result is visible in worsening road conditions, escalating repair costs, and extended disruptions for commuters and businesses. Therefore, the effective collection and timely remittance of the five percent road user charge are critical,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of FERMA, Chukwuemeka Abbasi, disclosed that although the 5 percent road user charge was established under the FERMA Act as a sustainable source of funding for road maintenance, it has never been effectively implemented by the NMDPRA.
Abbasi stated, “The five percent user charge, as outlined in the FERMA Act, was intended to serve as a reliable funding mechanism for maintaining and rehabilitating roads. Unfortunately, FERMA has struggled with severe funding deficits over the years, limiting its ability to properly maintain Nigeria’s extensive road network.”
Earlier, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, recalled that on March 19, the House discussed a motion highlighting the failure to implement the remittance of the five percent user charge on petroleum products, which is meant to fund road maintenance under the FERMA Amendment Act of 2007.
Francis Waive, chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee and the House Committee on Rules and Business, clarified that the five percent road user charge is not a new initiative to increase fuel prices or amend existing laws but has been part of the legislation since 2007.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, says the state has mapped out 22,435 hectares of degraded land for restoration under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project using modern geospatial mapping technology.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He said the initiative is part of efforts to strengthen climate resilience, tackle environmental degradation, and promote sustainable land use in the state.
Speaking at the ACReSAL mid-term review meeting in Kaduna through the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, the governor explained that the use of geospatial tools has made it possible to accurately identify affected areas for targeted intervention.
He added that the project is not only focused on land recovery but also on boosting agricultural output and improving livelihoods in affected communities.
Sani also noted that the state is supporting the programme with empowerment initiatives, including training over 500 women, youths, and school feeding vendors in biomass briquette production.
According to him, the effort is already helping to reduce dependence on firewood while creating alternative sources of income for beneficiaries.
President Tinubu has given full backing for the implementation of the ₦68.32 trillion 2026 budget after signing the Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly into law.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He also approved an amendment extending the lifespan of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30, 2026, to ensure completion of ongoing capital projects nationwide.
Under the 2026 fiscal plan, ₦4.799 trillion is set aside for statutory transfers, ₦15.8 trillion for debt servicing, ₦15.4 trillion for recurrent spending, while ₦32.2 trillion goes to capital projects—about half of the total budget.
The focus, according to the administration, is on infrastructure development, security, and growth-driven investments aimed at improving living standards.
Speaking on the development, presidential aide Bayo Onanuga said the extension of the 2025 budget will help ensure full use of allocated funds, especially for major ongoing projects.
Tinubu directed all ministries, departments, and agencies to ensure transparency, discipline, and value-for-money in implementing the budget, while praising the National Assembly for its swift passage of the bill.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic reforms, revenue growth, job creation, and social welfare improvements.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has described moves to prosecute former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed over alleged culpable homicide as an attempt to reopen the 2018 Offa robbery tragedy for political purposes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement on Friday, the party’s spokesperson, Olusegun Adewara, said the development is a disturbing and dangerous politicisation of a case they claim has already been addressed through judicial processes.
He warned against dragging the state into fresh tension, accusing the state government of attempting to revive old allegations for political advantage.
Adewara said the PDP would not remain silent while what he called “political narratives” are used to influence public perception around a tragic incident that claimed multiple lives in Offa in 2018.
He also urged residents, especially affected families, not to allow their pain to be used for political gains, insisting it is unjust to associate Saraki with the crime.
The party further alleged that the move is aimed at distracting attention from governance challenges in the state.
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