FG considers reintroducing toll gates with surveillance technology on Highways

The Federal Government is considering the reintroduction of toll gates across major Nigerian highways, with modern surveillance technology to identify and track vehicles as part of renewed efforts to tackle kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other security threats.

Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, disclosed this, explaining that the proposed tollgate system would serve a dual purpose of generating revenue and strengthening security surveillance along the country’s major road networks.

Musa said the government was exploring a technology-driven arrangement that would enable security agencies to monitor vehicles, identify suspicious movements and track criminal networks without necessarily requiring motorists to stop for manual toll payments.

The minister spoke at an event organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and convened by Ismaeel Ahmed, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (PiCNG & EV).

The event, themed “Promise to Proof: The Renewed Hope Conversation,” provided an opportunity for discussions on government policies, national security and other development priorities.

Responding to concerns about the rising insecurity on Nigerian highways and a suggestion that motorists could contribute to security funding through tollgate charges, Musa supported the idea, arguing that the decision to dismantle tollgates in the past might have deprived the country of an important security infrastructure.

He, however, stressed that any proposed reintroduction must be supported by modern technology capable of identifying vehicles through their registration numbers and facilitating electronic payments.

Under the proposed arrangement, surveillance systems would be deployed to capture vehicle details, monitor movements and provide security agencies with useful information for investigating criminal activities.

FG Moves to Strengthen National Identification System

Beyond highway surveillance, the defence minister advocated a stronger national identification framework that would integrate personal identification numbers, facial recognition and fingerprint technology.

He said a comprehensive identification system would assist security agencies in establishing the identities of individuals, tracking criminal networks and improving intelligence gathering.

READ ALSO; Hunger, insecurity: Zamfara youths protest in Gusau, demand Tinubu’s resignation [VIDEO]

According to him, the integration of biometric information into national security operations would make it easier to identify individuals involved in criminal activities and strengthen the ability of authorities to trace suspects.

The proposal comes amid persistent concerns over kidnappings, armed banditry and attacks on motorists travelling along major highways, particularly routes connecting communities in the North-West and North-Central regions.

Military Seeks Gradual Withdrawal From Internal Security Operations

Musa also acknowledged that the military’s prolonged involvement in internal security operations across the country had stretched the armed forces beyond their traditional responsibilities.

He said the government was working towards a gradual withdrawal of the military from certain internal security duties by strengthening the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

According to him, the military has been supporting the police through specialised training, operational assistance and other capacity-building programmes to prepare the force to assume greater responsibility for internal security within its constitutional mandate.

He explained that the government was also pursuing additional recruitment and equipment procurement to improve the capacity of security agencies to respond to emerging threats.

The minister’s position reflects the government’s intention to gradually restore the police to a more prominent role in maintaining internal security, while allowing the military to concentrate more on its core responsibilities of defending the country’s territorial integrity and combating external threats.

N5.4trn Defence Budget, 12,000 Additional Personnel

Providing details of the government’s defence spending and manpower plans, Musa said N5.4 trillion had been allocated to the defence sector in the 2026 budget.

He also disclosed plans to recruit an additional 12,000 personnel to strengthen the country’s security architecture and improve operational effectiveness.

READ ALSO; Food Security at Risk as Insecurity Disrupts Farming Activities in Nigeria

According to the minister, the allocation would support the acquisition of modern weapons, surveillance equipment and operational platforms required to improve intelligence gathering, mobility, firepower and rapid response capabilities.

He said the government was investing in equipment and personnel to enable the armed forces to respond more effectively to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security challenges.

Musa further gave an account of recent military operations, claiming that security forces had killed more than 300 terrorists and bandits, including over 10 commanders, during operations conducted in the week preceding his presentation.

He attributed the reported successes to improved intelligence gathering, coordinated military operations and stronger cooperation among the various security agencies.

The minister maintained that closer collaboration among security institutions remained essential to dismantling criminal networks and preventing armed groups from exploiting operational gaps.

Porous Borders Remain Major Security Challenge

Despite the reported progress in military operations, Musa identified Nigeria’s porous borders as one of the biggest obstacles confronting efforts to eliminate terrorism, banditry and arms trafficking.

He noted that the country’s extensive international boundaries, particularly its border with the Niger Republic, provided opportunities for criminal groups and weapons traffickers to move across the region.

According to him, addressing insecurity requires stronger border surveillance, intelligence sharing and sustained cooperation with neighbouring countries.

The minister disclosed that Nigeria had maintained security relationships with Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali despite their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He said the relationships remained important, particularly in areas of military training, intelligence cooperation and security arrangements involving communities around shared borders.

Musa’s remarks underscore the regional dimension of Nigeria’s security challenges, as armed groups and trafficking networks often operate across national boundaries.

On efforts to reduce dependence on imported military equipment, the minister said the Federal Government had strengthened the country’s defence manufacturing industry through legislative reforms and partnerships with equipment manufacturers.

He urged Nigerians with expertise in cybersecurity, drone manufacturing and other emerging defence technologies to approach the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) with their innovations for possible collaboration.

According to him, encouraging local innovation and manufacturing would help develop indigenous solutions to the country’s security challenges while strengthening the domestic defence industry.

He said Nigeria needed to harness the technical capabilities of its citizens to develop surveillance systems, unmanned aerial vehicles and other equipment that could support military and intelligence operations.

The minister also called on citizens to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious movements and activities within their communities.

He stressed that public cooperation and timely intelligence remained important in identifying criminal operations, preventing attacks and supporting ongoing security efforts.

The proposed reintroduction of technology-enabled tollgates, alongside biometric identification, increased defence spending and local equipment manufacturing, forms part of the range of measures Musa outlined as the government seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s response to persistent insecurity.

However, the proposed tollgate arrangement remains under consideration, with details on implementation, financing, surveillance infrastructure and motorists’ payment obligations yet to be fully disclosed.