Abuja — Vehicle owners in Abuja will soon begin to pay money to drive on FCT roads, as the FCT Administration (FCTA) has concluded arrangements with the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) to introduce road tax policy in Abuja. This, the administration disclosed, is to ensure that adequate revenue is generated to maintain all existing roads in the city. The system would be worked out in such a way that vehicle owners in the city would pay tax in line with the engine capacity, and fuel consumption levels and gas emissions from their engines.

According to Abdul Ismail, Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Transport and Traffic management who disclosed this in an interview, the bill on the new system would soon be sent to the National Assembly for onward passage into law. The introduction of the road tax bill is in line with efforts to cushion the effects of climate change being promoted across the globe. City analysts are however of the opinion that the introduction of the road users' tax system would pose serious challenges for Nigerians who believe in spending huge monies on high performance cars as well as provide a veritable means for revenue that would be ploughed back into the provision of infrastructure in the transport sector in the city.

It would be recalled that the administration had planned to introduce property tax for all property within the territory, and had already sent a bill on the proposal to the National Assembly. The administration had said that, when passed, the two enabling laws will make life meaningful to all persons resident in the territory, particularly in the areas of cutting down the cost of rent on property. Similarly, the administration has concluded arrangements to modify the existing speed bumps constructed on major intersections on Abuja roads. This is coming on the heels of outcry by members of the public over the erection of the bumps which many decry as ill conceived and causing damage to their cars.Ismail stated that the decision is part of the FCTA minister's commitment responding to public outcry as a servant leader, stressing that the modification of the speed bumps is not in any way connected to the directive from the National Assembly for their removal. "It is better to save lives than to save cars.

The presence of the bumps has reduced accident rates in the city with the records from the accident and emergency units of major hospitals in the city and the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC),"he explained. He further disclosed that the FCT minister had directed for the engagement of a team of engineers who would advice the administration on the nature of alternative speed breakers to be constructed, stressing that government would not entertain any idea of removing the bumps completely, considering their usefulness.The modification of the bumps is expected to be handled by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc while the funding may be done by Oceanic Bank under a corporate social responsibility arrangement. The existing bumps which were constructed by Julius Berger at 25 intersections were sponsored by Oceanic Bank at the cost of N40million. Ismail has also disclosed that the decision to procure generators to power street lights in major areas of the city by the administration was being implemented to ensure that Abuja remains bright through the night. The FCT minister had, on assumption of office, promised that a number of generators would be purchased by the administration to support the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to light up the city.