Reintroduction Of Toll At Osborne/Ikoyi Link Bridge, A Looming Disaster – Lagos Lawyer

By Ayodele Oni

A legal practitioner, Kunle Uthman has advised the Lagos State government not to reintroduce toll collection again at the Osborne/ Ikoyi link bridge, describing the action as anti-people.

Uthman, based in Lekki,  in an open letter to Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu, noted that Lagosians are already saturated with too many taxes with no corresponding benefits.

The Lekki Concession Company (LCC) has expressed its decision to resume collection of toll from motorists that make use of the Osborne / Ikoyi link bridge from next month.

According to the spokesman of LCC, this decision was taken after due consultation with the Lagos State Government and its officials.

The suspension of toll collection on the bridge  was as a result of the #EndSARS protests in Lekki, during which  the two toll plazas operated by LCC were destroyed.

The Lagos State Government,  in reaction to public outcry, has rescinded its earlier decision to resume, toll collection, following negative public outcry.

Uthman’s letter states that “a private company, LCC has set a date to resume Toll Collection and there are handbills being distributed to commuters announcing the date as 1st April (April Fool’s Day).

“It has recently become indisputable that this LASG as relates to citizens resident from Lekki to Epe has become callously insensitive to the pains and tribulations of these people, whether vehicle owners or commuters in public transportation.

“What (truly) is the crime of these citizens who pay tax to government and receive little or no concomitant benefits?

“As it is, life in this axis is hellish in terms of the pains experienced day-by-day, especially as relates to movement or commuting from one end to another.

“The glaringly sad crystal clear notorious fact is that many of the officials of the Lagos State Government, including Judges of the state high courts and bureaucrats reside in this axis, but apparently maintain a ‘silence of the graveyard.’

“As such, the Lagos State Government and its proxy agency, LCC ought to be more sensitive than to give money priority over the welfare of citizens.

“The decision by whomsoever it was made to resume Toll Collection on the bridge hereinabove referenced is a sad testimonial proof of the fact that our elected leaders are wicked, satanic, insensitive and care less, if at all, for the welfare of the citizens of Lagos State chanted “Centre Of Excellence”.

“An average journey of 30 minutes takes two to three hours in this axis, due to traffic gridlock and no access roads.

“The Government had given priority to commerce as opposed to welfare. The cost of living is astronomically high, without concomitant increase in income.

“Still, this Lagos State Government wants to worsen the quality of our lives, and have wrongly assumed that ours is a population of dumb educated people.

“Apparently, we have elected an insensitive group of persons whose motivation is tax collection and taxation no matter its impact on the lives of its highly impoverished population.

“Your Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the legacy being scripted for you by providence may not be a good one.

“You have so far had a turbulent tenure as Governor of Lagos State – 21 Storey Collapsed Building, #EndSARS,  Magodo, death in a public bus and many more.

“Please prevail on this LCC private company to be innovative in other things or give them a part of the Alpha-Beta largesse.

“To resume Toll Collection of roads anywhere in Lagos State will result in the people’s anger, in frustration and you may not be able to contain its resultant consequences. STOP this aberration.

“To survive in this our country Nigeria is an economic and social nightmare and daymare. This is Save-Our-Soul (SOS).

“Pity us and our families. LCC or whichever company or agency or parastatal should never ever have the right to further traumatise us. Bad roads, no light, no public medical health care.

“As we approach the 2023 Gubernatorial Elections, will you be seeking reelection to govern Lagos State? If in the affirmative, please (In God’s Name) advise the LCC to back-off.”