The Federal Government is considering plans to reintroduce tollgates across major Nigerian highways as part of efforts to strengthen national security and curb the growing threats of kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities.
Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, disclosed this during an event in Abuja, where he expressed support for the proposed initiative, noting that the decision to dismantle the country’s former tollgate system may have created security gaps that could have been avoided.
According to the minister, the proposed tollgates would go beyond their traditional role of generating revenue for the government, serving as strategically positioned security monitoring points along major highways.
He explained that the new system would be equipped with modern surveillance technologies capable of identifying vehicles through their registration numbers, monitoring their movements and facilitating electronic payments without requiring motorists to stop for manual transactions.
Musa noted that integrating technology into highway management could significantly improve security surveillance, strengthen the ability of security agencies to monitor suspicious movements and make it more difficult for criminal elements to operate undetected.
The Defence Minister also stressed the importance of developing a more effective national identification system that would incorporate personal identification numbers, facial recognition and fingerprint technology.
He explained that a reliable identity management structure would assist security agencies in verifying individuals, tracing suspects and identifying criminal networks, thereby improving the country’s overall security architecture.
On the growing security responsibilities placed on the military, Musa acknowledged that prolonged deployments in internal security operations had placed considerable pressure on the armed forces.
He disclosed that the Federal Government was working towards strengthening the Nigeria Police Force through improved training, recruitment and the provision of necessary equipment.
According to him, building the operational capacity of the police would enable them to take greater responsibility for internal security duties, allowing the military to gradually return to its primary constitutional responsibilities of defending the country’s territorial integrity against external threats.
The proposed return of modern tollgates represents part of the Federal Government’s broader consideration of technology-driven security measures aimed at improving highway safety, monitoring movements and addressing persistent security challenges across Nigeria.
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If implemented effectively, the initiative could provide security agencies with additional tools to detect criminal activities, track suspicious vehicles and improve public confidence in road transportation across the country.
