The Senate is deliberating on a bill that if approved, will result in at least 7 new taxes to be levied on road users in the country. The bill is the National Roads Fund bill, which seeks to improve road construction and maintenance in the country. The taxes, which Daily Post claims may be up to 9 in number are expected enable government to adequately service road infrastructure.
The said taxes are
- Fuel levy of N5 chargeable per litre on any volume of Petroleum and diesel products imported into Nigeria and on locally refined Petroleum products.
- Axle load control charges
- Toll fees (A percentage of not exceeding 10% of any revenue paid as user charge per vehicle on any federal road designated as a toll road)
- International vehicle transit charges
- Interstate mass transit user charge of 0.5% deductible from the fare paid by passengers to commercial mass transit operators on inter-state roads
- Roads Fund surcharge of 0.5% chargeable on the surcharge on the assessed value of any vehicle imported at any time into Nigeria
The said taxes will operate independently under the Federal Ministry of Finance. It is almost foregone that the Senate will approve the taxes as matters relating to unresolved issues of appointment into the agency were all that was inconclusive.