TwentyTenDaily

Insight On The Implications Of Re-Opening The Lekki Toll Gate

On Saturday, February 7, 2020, the nine-man Lagos State Judiciary Panel authorised the reopening of the Lekki Toll Plaza just days after the Nigerian Army pulled out of the panel of inquiry. While the panel approved the re-opening of the toll, youth representatives on the panel have protested, insisting the toll gate “remains shut”.

A List Of Members From The Panel And Their Votes
Votes Against LASG:
  • Ebun Olu- Adegboruwa ( SAN, CSO Representative)
  • Olorunrinu Oduala (Youth Representative)
  • Temitope Majekodunmi (Youth Representative)
  • Patience Patrick Udoh ( CSO Representative)

Votes For LASG

  • Justice Doris Okuwobi (Chairperson )
  • Taiwo Lakanu DIG ( Police Representative)
  • Lucas Koyejo ( National Human Right Commission Representative)
  • Segun Awosanya ( Twitter Human Right Activist)
  • Mrs Oluwatoyin Odusanya (Director, Citizen’s Right)
Judicial Consequences Of Re-Opening The Toll Gate

According to a statement from youth representative, the judicial consequence of re-opening the toll plaza would hinder ongoing investigations.

Highlights Of Their Points
  • The panel has been unable to meet the 5 For 5 demands of the Youth as the opinions of the youth has not been reflected in the Panel’s ruling.
  • The Toll Plaza would seize to be open for investigation if it is repossessed by the LCC and opened for business.
  • The LCC management has, despite requests, failed to provide information which includes access to servers; who ordered the extraction of CCTV footage; date and time of extraction of the footage from the CCTV; the method used for the extraction, thereby hoarding information essential for the purpose of forensic examination, so it is impossible to conclude investigations are over.
  • While the case of Lekki Concession Company (LCC) was ongoing, counsel to some #EndSARS protesters, Mrs Fawenhimi Morakinyo raised the issue of quorum. Missing then were the CSO’s representatives, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) and Ms Patience Patrick-Udoh.
  • This is especially important as victims of the Lekki Toll Incident are yet to be heard and the public is still in the dark on the full details of the incident. Based on these facts, we are of the considered view that the Lekki Toll Gate remains shut and under the purview of the panel until full investigations and hearings are concluded by this panel.
  • Victims of the Lekki Toll Incident are yet to be heard and the public is still in the dark on the full details of the incident, hence the view that the Lekki Toll Gate remains shut and under the purview of the panel until full investigations and hearings are concluded by this panel.
Societal Consequences Of Re-Opening The Toll Gate

Nigerians have reacted to the re-opening of the Lekki Toll Gate with many insisting cost of living in Lagos was significantly better with the Toll closed.

Twitter user, Suraj Oyewale tweeted: “Closure of Lekki toll gate saves me N9k per month and 20 minutes in daily travel time”.

This tweet was retweeted 162 times with 443 likes.

Another Twitter user, Sufi Woman tweeted:” Since the Lekki tolls stopped functioning, we no longer have traffic on that axis. What good is this bloody toll????”

This tweet was retweeted 55 times with 38 likes.

A TwentyTen Daily independent survey showed that 96.1% responders living in Lagos agree that the Lekki Tollgate should remain closed, 66.7% responders voted that traffic lessened since the closure of the Toll Gate and 64.7% responders said they were spending less on transportation with the Lekki Toll Gate closure.

LCC charges Saloon cars and tricycles N200 and N180 with e-tags, SUVs, mini-vans, light pick-up trucks pay N400 and N380 with e-tags, Non-commercial buses with maximum capacity of 26 seats pay N1000 and N900 with e-tag; and motorcycles with 200cc capacity and above pay N200 and N180 with e-tag.

Patsy Nwogu

, ,