True to their threat, members of the Eti-Osa-Lekki-Epe Residents and Indigenes Association (LEEISA) held a peaceful rally on the Lekki-Epe Expressway to protest the proposed toll fee to be charged on motorists and residents.
True to their threat, members of the Eti-Osa-Lekki-Epe Residents and Indigenes Association (LEEISA) held a peaceful rally on the Lekki-Epe Expressway to protest the proposed toll fee to be charged on motorists and residents.
The Lekki Concession Company had initially announced commencement of tolling on the Lekki-Epe expressway for January 3, 2011, but the residents and stakeholders had embarked upon mass campaign against the project, leading to bulk sms and email messages to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. A case was also filed against the toll fee at the Lagos High Court by human rights activist and lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.
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The governor eventually announced an indefinite suspension of the toll collection, but the residents insisted on outright cancellation and not suspension, of the toll fee. The rally was meant to draw awareness to the campaign for total cancellation.
As early as 6.30a.m. today, January 3, 2011, the leaders of the residents, Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Mr. Ayobami Biobaku and members of the Heritage Group and leader of the Ajah Ilaje Association, Prince A. Ikuesan, had all converged on the Lekki Phase 1 roundabout for the rally. They were all wearing T-shirts with the inscription> “No to fencing, no to toll gate.” The police, lead by the DPO of Maroko Police Station, Mr. Ukoh, were on hand to offer protection to the group and to stop hoodlums from hijacking the event.
The rally commenced at about 8am, with opening prayers said by Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, who also doubles as a pastor of the biggest RCCG church in Lekki Phase 1. Prayers were also said by a muslim cleric. Addressing the gathering, the chairman, Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu, restated the commitment of the group to a total cancellation of the toll fee, saying that the Lekki-Epe expressway, was the only project ever embarked upon by the Lagos State Government in the area. He acknowledged the effort of the governor in his intervention to suspend the collection of the toll, but stressed the need for a total cancellation. He said the group accepted the invitation of the governor for dialogue on the issue but warned that such will never lead to any concession on toll, since available information already showed that about N6.3B of Lagos State money has already been contributed into the project.
Also addressing the gathering, Mr. Ayobami Biobaku, representing the business interest in the Lekki-Epe axis, stated that the idea of the toll project has affected businesses adversely as businessmen are now facing serious challenges to break even, mainly because of the negative impact the project has had on businesses in the area.
Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa on his own part, stated that it would amount to double taxation to have three different toll plazas on a single road of about 23 klms only. He said the land constituting the road was acquired originally by the Lagos State Government under the regime of Alhaji Kayode Jakande from the indigenes for public use and if it is now to be turned over to LCC for commercial use, the land must first be de-acquired and returned to the original owners who would then decide whether or not to partner with LCC. He stated further that it was wrong for the government and LCC to attempt to impose the toll fee on the people and that the purported suspension by the governor was only a political carrot because of the coming 2011 elections. He said everyone must be alert to ensure that at no other time should the idea of the toll fee be accepted now and for ever. Mr. Adegboruwa wondered why the Lagos State Government has singled out the people of the Lekki-Epe axis for punishment and extortion when similar and better roads built by the same government in other areas in the state were not being tolled. He said it amounts to discrimination for the residents and indigenes to be the only ones to be forced to pay for public infrastructure when other Lagosians are enjoying similar facilities free of charge.
At exactly 9.00 am, the gathering spilled on to the Lekki-Epe expressway proper, bringing vehicular movement to a total standstill, with the police and LASTMA officers assisting to control the traffic. The protesters were led by Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, holding large banners with the inscription “NO TO TOLL FEE”, “NO TO LCC TOLL FRAUD”. “LEKKI ROAD IS OUR PROPERTY”, “WE DEMAND TOLL CANCELLATION, NOT SUSPENSION”, etc. The group then formed a long line across the expressway, with Dr. Ajagu and Mr. Biobaku leading the procession. They marched around the Lekki Phase 1 roundabout, stopping traffic at each point. This went on for about 30 minutes when the group again re-assembled inside the Lekki-Phase 1 roundabout. Motorists and passers-by were openly hailing the protesters, with many men and women joining in the rally. Residents of Lekki Phase 1 all came out in their large numbers to support the group. The rally ended peacefully at about 10am.
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