Residents of Eti-Osa East and West Local Councils in Lagos State yesterday blocked traffic along the Lekki- Epe expressway to protest plans by the state government to collect tolls from vehicles plying the 24km road. Workers, students and other commuters were stranded as the residents, who have always threatened to halt the plan by Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to begin the collection of fees on the expressway, took to the streets carrying placards. The communities along the road have previously made several calls to the Lagos State government to stop the concession company which reconstructed the road, giving it six lanes, to erect toll gates along the path in order to recoup its investments. During yesterday’s protest march, the people, who referred to themselves as “indigenes of Eti-Osa”, said they could not afford the additional financial burden that the proposed tolls will place on them. Carrying placards and chanting various songs, the participants – in a rather peaceful protest – made their way to Jakande junction of the road, where they waited for the state governor, Babatunde Fashola, who was billed to pass the road on his way to the Lekki Free Trade Zone to attend an investment forum. “We are not going to pay any amount on this road,” said Ismail Oladipupo, one of the protesters. “We are having this protest to draw attention to this area; when the protest affects economic activities, people will realise what we can do when they start to collect money at the toll gates.” The state government in April 2006, signed an agreement with Lekki Concession Company (LCC) under the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) scheme that would span a period of 30 years; an agreement which allows the company to upgrade and expand the busy road and recoup its investment before ownership reverts back to the government. The company is currently test-running its facilities at the newly constructed toll gate, but the residents said two additional gates are being proposed by the company. The company is yet to say the amount that will be collected as toll from motorists, but the residents fear it would range from N100 to N250 per toll. “How can we be paying at three gates? We reject any amount, even if it’s N5. This is because any additional financial burden will tell on everything, from the transport fare, to the price of pepper, clothes, and everything. We reject this commercialisation in our area,” said Bashiru Ahmed, an elderly man who was part of the protest march. The protesters were also critical of the government for endorsing the arrangement in their area, saying they are being used as guinea pigs. “Why here?” a youth, Adamson Kamorudeen asked, “Why not elsewhere. LASU/Iba road recently also constructed by the state government did not have anything like this.” Protest not necessary Mr. Fashola, whose motorcade was held up for hours by the protesters who accused him of insensitivity, eventually showed up and was forced to address the protesters who had waited for about two hours, cramming the road and blocking movements. However, his appeal and admonition were buried by shouts of “No toll gates” from the protesters. In his address, Mr. Fashola blamed the protesters for the traffic congestion caused by the march. He, however, assured them that a committee had been set up to look into the issue. “This protest is not necessary,” he said. “This is a commercial issue, don’t turn it into a political issue. I don’t think it is fair to paralyse this road; people are going to earn their livelihood; children are going to school.” His address did not however appear to have ended the matter although the protesters agreed to allow free flow of traffic afterwards. Some of the protesters and their leaders who remained on the scene after the governor left, accused Mr. Fashola of insincerity. “Yes, he has asked us to nominate people for the committee which we have done since, but we have not heard anything from him since we forwarded the document to them,” said Babs Akinlolu, who identified himself as a former executive director of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). Some of the motorists whose movement were affected by the protest sympathised with the Lekki residents. “It will affect me; it will affect my business. I am surprised that this government is not thinking about the poor masses at all,” said a trader, Emeka Ofor. Testing the waters As a way of sensitising motorists to its readiness to begin the collection of tolls on the Lekki-Epe expressway, the company last week began the distribution of leaflets at one of the three toll gates. In the leaflet, it spelt out the key benefits of the project and payment method of the charges, among other details. The company had earlier fixed May, 2010 as the commencement date for the toll collection. In reaction to the company’s move, some members of the Eti-Osa community at a forum organised to convey their grievances over the company’s plan to go ahead with the toll, resolved last week to stop the plan. Residents claim that at a meeting between them and Mr Fashola on July 20, 2010 it was resolved that a committee be set up to settle the issue of paying tolls on the road. At the meeting, it was also agreed that another road, which would serve as an alternative route, would be made toll-free. But part of the information on the leaflet, however, showed that the coastal road which is supposed to serve that purpose for those who cannot afford to pay the toll fees, would no longer be free. “This is reckless, arrogant and provocative, and we wonder who else LCC will respect or listen to if it can afford to ignore the governor and the House. LCC is part of the committee just as it has been invited by the House committee in order to assist its finding. So why the test run?” said Adewale Sanni, the convener and spokesperson of the Eti-Osa forum. Another resident, who asked not to be named, equally expressed dismay at the development. “It is going to inconvenience people, because to pay from here to there is not fair. The access road that is supposed to be an alternative, you will also have to pay toll, so what are the options? The one you have now is at Oniru side and around Jakande to come in and out of Lekki. But the roads are very bad, and I wouldn’t want to spoil my car. Those who cannot afford to mess up their car will be forced to pay the toll and I would prefer to travel on a straight road. I just think it’s not fair.”
Aug202010