Ogun Drivers Protest Exorbitant Toll Fees on Ijebu-Ode-Epe Road 

Drivers plying the newly dualized 14km Ijebu-Ode-Epe Road in Ogun State have expressed outrage over the introduction of toll fees, which they claim are exorbitant and unsustainable. The tolls, which range from N500 for cars to N1,000 for buses and N2,500 for trucks, were introduced on April 18, 2025, without prior consultation with the drivers.

The drivers, who are mostly members of the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria, claim that the tolls are arbitrary and will have a devastating impact on their livelihoods.

They argue that the fees are too high, considering the current economic climate, and will force them to transfer the cost to passengers, which could lead to a reduction in the number of passengers they carry.

“We are not against paying tolls, but the amount is too high,” said Wasiu Ologbonori, a leader of the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria.

“We are appealing to the government to review the tolls to N100 or at most N200. We know how tough things are economically, and we sincerely beg the government to help us,” he said.

Another driver, Emmanuel Adeleye, echoed Ologbonori’s sentiments, stating that the tolls are affecting their livelihoods. “Things have not been the same since we started paying the N1,000 toll,” he said. “We could pay as much as N6,000 daily, depending on the number of trips we make and how much we make from each trip. The toll shouldn’t be more than N100 or N200 at most.”

The drivers have threatened to transfer the cost to passengers if the government does not review the tolls by Monday.

They also warned that they may be forced to use alternative routes, which could lead to a reduction in the number of vehicles using the road.

The Ogun State Government has defended the introduction of tolls, stating that it was part of the original plan when the road was constructed under a public-private partnership arrangement. The government claims that the tolls are necessary to maintain the road and fund other developmental projects.

However, the National Vice Chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Yinka Folarin, has called on the state government to review the toll charges, which he described as outrageous. “Even the airport tolling is not as high as N500, N1,000, N2,500,” he said.

“It is imperative to state that whatever yardstick is presented for the outrageous tolling charges for the 14km Ijebu-Ode-Epe Road is condemnable and should be rejected.”

The government has exempted certain vehicles from toll payments, including emergency response vehicles such as ambulances, fire services, and patrol vehicles. However, the drivers are calling for a review of the tolls to make them more affordable and sustainable.

The controversy over the toll fees has highlighted the need for the government to engage with stakeholders and consider the economic impact of its policies on the citizens. The government must balance the need to generate revenue with the need to protect the livelihoods of its citizens.