Lekki residents, under the aegis of Lekki Peninsula Phase 1
Residents Association, have written the governor of Lagos State, Babajide
Sanwo-Olu, to suspend the planned resumption of toll at the Lekki-Ikoyi Link
Bridge and the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
In an open letter to the governor on Tuesday, signed by the
Chairman of the association, Yomi Idowu, the residents raised socio-economic
reasons and other critical issues that were yet to be addressed which made the
decision to recommence tolling unjust, oppressive, and illegal.
“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 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 is on strike, meaning students
are at home, with other unions threatening to go on strike.
“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 Lagos State Government (LASG) to
apply wisdom and shelve its plans to resume toll collection on the Lekki-Ikoyi
Link Bridge,” the letter read in part.
LERA further argued that there were issues of pending court
matter; ownership questions and lack of transparency; underdevelopment of the
Lekki-Epe corridor; and justice for #ENDSARS victims, that were yet to be
addressed by the government, making the recommencing of the toll illegal.
On the pending court matter, LERA argued that “the Lekki
Concession Company Limited (LCC) and LASG have continued to use the
instrumentality of the law courts to foist hardship on our community. We recall
that the Federal High Court in Lagos had in the recent past effectively
declared the tolling of the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge as illegal and
unconstitutional. LASG 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 LASG to pursue the best interest of its citizenry rather than use the
machinery of the state against law-abiding citizens.
On justice for #ENDSARS victims, the residents said that the
the report of the panel had been submitted, and a White Paper was produced,
adding that, however, the Lagos government had 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, LERA said.
The letter concluded by urging the governor to act in
exercising maximum restraints and to immediately suspend the planned resumption
of tolling at the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge.
“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 tolls 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.
“We urge Your Excellency to act to exercise maximum
restraints at this point and to immediately suspend this planned resumption of
tolling at the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge in the overriding interest of peace and
order in our community,” the residents said.
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