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LAGOS: Don’t resume toll collection on Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, residents tell Sanwo-Olu

THE Chairman of Lekki Phase 1 Residents Association, Yomi Idowu, today, urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to stop the resumption of toll collection on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge.

In an open letter to the governor on behalf of the residents, Idowu noted that the country’s economic indices do not support the resumption of toll collection on th bridge.

He added that there are also still many unresolved issues around the collection of toll on the bridge.

Idowu said the residents are implored Sanwo-Olu to exercise maximum restraints and immediately suspend the planned resumption of tolling at the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge in the overriding interest of peace and order.

According to him, Lekki Concession Company (LCC) lied against the residents when in its statement, LCC said that the residents gave go ahead for the reintroduction of toll collection, which they never did.

“May we first of all, express our best wishes to you and your administration as we write to bring a matter of utmost urgency with the potential to quickly spiral out of control if not checked, to your attention.

“Let’s first paint a picture of the current reality being faced in the socio-economic environment: According to the Central Bank of Nigeria / National Bureau of Statistics, unemployment is at 33% while youth unemployment is at a staggering 42.5%; and when you add youth under-employment, you have 63.5% of youth either unemployed or underemployed.

“Also, Consumer Price inflation (CPI) is currently at 15.70% resulting in increasing cost of food compounded by increased cost of electricity, fuel and diesel prices. In addition to all of this, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is on strike, meaning students are at home, with other unions threatening to go on strike.

“It is therefore evident that with elections around the corner combined with Nigeria’s precarious socio-economic climate, any additional triggers increasing the burden of citizens could produce unexpected outcomes. We view with deep concern and trepidation the less than transparent attempt at recommencing tolling activities at the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, even as matters relating to the #EndSARS protest, which led to the termination of tolling activities in the first place, remain largely unresolved. The issue is compounded by the myriad of issues bedeviling the rationale to toll at this location.

“It is against this backdrop that the Lekki Phase 1 Residents Association (LERA) implores the state government to apply wisdom and shelve its plans to resume toll collection on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge.

“Furthermore, there are fundamental and critical issues yet to be addressed which make the decision to recommence tolling unjust, oppressive, and illegal.”

On the pending court matter, Idowu said the Lekki Concession Company Limited (LCC) and state government have continued to use the instrumentality of the law courts to foist hardship on the community.

He said: “We recall that the Federal High Court in the state had in the recent past effectively declared the tolling of the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge as illegal and unconstitutional. The state government characteristically secured an order of stay of execution on the ground that it had appealed the court’s decision but has so far failed to prosecute the subject appeal.

“With this Sword of Damocles hanging over our community, one expected state government to pursue the best interest of its citizenry rather than use the machinery of the state against law-abiding citizens.”

Also commenting on the ownership question and lack of transparency in LCC activities, Idowu said that in making a case for the resumption of tolling, the state government had stated several times that LCC is a privately owned entity. As such, it has the burden to cater for its over 500 employees.

“Nothing, however, could be more disingenuous. According to LCC’s website, the state government “… acquired the shares/equity of the previous owners of LCC in December 2014.”

This was supported by the testimonies of the Managing Director of the LCC, Yomi Omomuwasan and the Head of Service to the Lagos State Government, Hakeem Muri-Okunola during the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality that LCC is 100% owned by state government.

“It was therefore clearly misleading that LCC presented itself to the members of the Lekki Estates Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA) as a private company. This was recorded in the minutes of the Monday, March 14, 2022 meeting between the LCC Managing Director, LERSA members and other stakeholders.

“Lekki Phase 1 residents have proximity to the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge for obvious reasons, and LCC again sought to misinform the general public when it stated that it had consulted with stakeholders including residents who consequently endorsed the resumption of tolling.

“Nothing could be farther from the truth as LERA maintains that it never gave its consent for the resumption of tolling. LERA’s position is that it is unconscionable to buffet the estate with excessive tolls on the two major exit points out of the estate without any viable alternatives. Not least because these infrastructures should rightly be provided by the government without the need to burden a populace that is already overtaxed.

“Underdevelopment of Lekki-Epe Corridor One is left to wonder as to the real motivation for the multiplicity of poll points within our community, a community that is already overtaxed in real terms.

“Asides from the toll gate at the International Airport operated by a federal agency, the only functioning toll gates in the state are the two toll gates managed by LCC in the Lekki axis within a 5km radius. In addition to the Land Use Charges, Infrastructure Development Charges and sundry other levies and fees paid by residents in the Lekki-Epe axis, what services has state government provided in return? There is no general hospital; no central market; no public primary nor secondary schools. However, the residents have to pay an additional tax in terms of tolls and this is framed as LCC providing services.

“As LCC is owned by the state government, it is its job to provide services and we deserve more. The accounts of LCC have never been made public despite several requests, so we have not been able to carry out an audit for a cost-benefit analysis.

“Following the directive given by the National Economic Council (NEC), Mr. Governor worked with his colleagues in most other states to set up the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality. The report of the panel was submitted, and a White Paper produced. LASG has not engaged Lagosians on the recommendations nor made concrete plans to deal with the underlying factors that led to the protests. Rather than work to seek peace, the State is actively working through LCC to inflict more suffering and hardship on its citizens. It is within this context that we understand that protests are being planned under the banner #NoJusticeNoToll.

“If the protests happen, the residents and businesses in Lekki will be the most affected. Your Excellency, we feel it is expedient to bring all the above to your attention, and to particularly note that the general mood of the people suggests that LCC should refrain
from collecting toll at the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge and the Lekki-Epe Expressway until these fundamental issues are addressed. To do otherwise will be to needlessly stoke the tension which pervades the nation,” Idowu said.

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