March 4, 2010
We have noted with dismay that the purported dividend of democracy as it concerns the expansion of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, which understandably would help ease the perennial traffic logjam, is now causing more problems than it had set out to address. It is very disheartening to note the following:
We have noted with dismay that the purported dividend of democracy as it concerns the expansion of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, which understandably would help ease the perennial traffic logjam, is now causing more problems than it had set out to address. It is very disheartening to note the following:1. That a 44-kilometer road expansion programme which was originally scheduled to be completed within a period of three years from 2006 to 2009, still has not gone beyond a 2-kilometer mark. The contractor, Lekki Concession Company (LCC) says the two kilometer work has cost them N5billion.
2. That, instead of the expansion of the road to further help open up the Lekki-Epe axis, it is rather helping to dwindle the economy of the axis as values of property are depreciating at an alarming rate whilst man-hours loss as a result of the horrendous traffic logjam leaves much to be desired. Let us say here loud and clear, businesses are collapsing.
3. That health hazards such as cardiac arrest and hypertension are increasingly causing death of residents and commuters as a result of the daily stress they experience on the road, and this is better imagined than expressed. The contractor is fiddling while homes burn! People are dying!
4. That the occasional statements on ‘project progress’ by the construction company, LCC are appreciated but we make haste to state that LCC should concern itself with the speedy completion of work and not explanatory advertorials as there is no juxtaposition whatsoever between 2 kilometers completed in four years and the whole stretch of 44 kilometers that should have been completed by now.
5. That we are of the impression that LCC either has issues of internal governance which are being concealed from the public and therefore, slow down pace of work; or that its claim of efficiency and capability is suspect as we will not accept the inexcusable reason of the absence of fund since the project abinitio ,is on a BOT (Build, Operate and Transfer) basis.
6. That the recent statement by LCC that collection of tolls on the road will commence in May, would be challenged, because in the first place, there is no basis for a toll gate since the State Government, also allegedly spent about N7.7 billion on a 2-kilometer road on Western Avenue on the mainland .
7. That the current alternative diversion for commuters appears not to be well thought out before making it public as commuters now go through “hell”.
In the light of the foregoing, we would like LCC to categorically address the issues raised herein with a view to providing the road-map for the way forward because if we maintain the current pace of work, the expected date of completion of the remaining 42 kilometers will be the year 2024.
We also wish to warn that if these issues are not addressed, sooner than later, there will be a series of action we will take including litigation, demonstrations and organized blockade of the entire road by all aggrieved residents and commuters.
For: CONCERNED RESIDENTS
OF LEKKI & AJAH (COROLA)
1. Salami 'Seyi Oderinde 2. Zack Okechukwu Maduka
3. Akhilele Eriamantor 4. Diepreye Omubor
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