THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE RECEIVED UNICONGO ON APRIL 9, 2019 REGARDING THE TOLL ON THE RN°1

The new tolls on the National Road No. 1 (Pointe-Noire/Brazzaville) were on the agenda of the meeting in Brazzaville of the President of the Senate with the delegation of Unicongo, led by Mr. Christian BARROS and Mr. Alphonse MISSENGUI.

During this very solemn meeting, the President of the Senate, Mr. Pierre NGOLO was surrounded by a dozen collaborators. The Vice-President and the President of Unicongo, Mr. Alphonse MISSENGUI and Mr. Christian BARROS, in turn presented the disastrous impact that the application of tolls as they stand would have on the cost of transport and the consumer prices of all imported goods, local foodstuffs and manufactured products from local industries. While recognizing the usefulness of tolls for the maintenance, repair and improvement of the RN 1, they deplored the exorbitant cost of tolls fixed for heavy vehicles at 40,000 francs per station, knowing that there are seven (7) between Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. Initially, this amount was reduced to 20,000 francs for two toll booths at the beginning, then four and at the end of August for seven booths with the full rate of 40,000 francs.

Indeed, this rate is exorbitant compared to the tariffs charged for road tolls in Cameroon, CAR, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Senegal.

In response, the President of the Senate thanked Unicongo for having taken the initiative to meet with the Senate, and for all the very important information made available to the institution he heads, which will be able, within the framework of its constitutional missions as moderator and advisor to the government, to play its role on this crucial issue, whose the foreseeable impact is serious on the Congolese economy and the purchasing power of Congolese citizens.

In conclusion, the President of the Senate invited the members of Unicongo not to proceed to brutal price increases, while waiting for the results of the steps that the Senate will undertake.