Overview

The Federal Highways Act, 1971 (No. 4) is a Nigerian law that vests the management, direction, and control of Federal highways in the Minister of Works and Housing. The Act covers planning (including research and designing), construction, maintenance, supervision of users, and regulation of traffic on Federal highways. It empowers the Minister to erect toll gates, acquire land, and carry out drainage and other works. The Act also establishes various offences such as causing death by reckless driving, driving under influence of drink, driving without a licence, overloading, and failure to report accidents, with corresponding penalties. It includes powers of arrest, retention of driving licences by police, and nomination of drivers for public service vehicles. The Act allows delegation of certain powers to State and local governments, and applies the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act to road users. It also provides for regulations and defines key terms. The Act came into force on 1 June 1971.

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