geez*:


Even if it was N1000, the truth is that this is a link bridge, an alternative that wasn't existing in the first place and you're not compelled in any way to ply it.

What would you say about those that ferry cars across the same waters for N1,500?


You can move from Lekki to Ikoyi and vice versa without using the bridge and if motorists wanna force government to reduce the toll, it's simply by just not using the bridge. It's the law of Economics and you can't legislate that

Daily Independent (Lagos)

[size=14pt]Julius Berger Begins Lekki Bridge, Badagry Road Upgrade With N10 Billion[/size]

Michael Simire, 18 May 2009

The sum of N10 billion has been released by the Lagos State Government to bigwig construction outfit, Messrs. Julius Berger Plc, towards the excution of two major infrastructure development projects in the bustling city.

The projects include the expansion of the Eric Moore-Mile 2 Road (which is the initial leg of the multi-billion-naira, multi-phase Lagos-Badagry Expressway rehabilitation scheme) as well as the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge (connecting Lekki Peninsular Scheme I with Osborne Road in Ikoyi).

Finance Commissioner, Mr. Rotimi Oyekan, who made the disclosure last week at Alausa pointed out that the projects were initiated in furtherance of the government's objectives of expanding and opening new roads for improved economic activities.

He said, "Our bold commitment to the initial funding of these projects is to demonstrate to interested private sector partners the sincerity of the government in the total transformation and rehabilitation of urban infrastructure and welcome their hand in fellowship on reasonable terms and conditions in this and other areas of development and growth."

The commissioner stated that the second tranche of the N275 billion Infrastructure Development Bond (IDB) for 2009 would soon be completed as the bond documentation was being rounded up. The first trance of N50 billion of the IDB, he noted, was over-subscribed, a development he attributed to "the public establishing confidence in our governemnt."

The IDB issuance, which commenced last year, will span three years and is designed to bankroll long term infrastructural projects. The financing vehicle is regarded as an alternative to short term borrowing, tending not to overburden the citizenry with arbitrary levies and tax increases.

Oyekan disclosed that government had established a Sinking Fund of N1.5 billion as Consolidated Debt Services Account (CDSA) into which is deposited monthly a sum of N1.8 billion, which is being managed by the bond trustees.

He described last year's performance on Land Use Charge as encouraging as, according to him, the N500 million target was overshot by 100 per cent. A new N3 billion target has been set, he stressed, saying that there has been an improvement in the collection machinery.

"Enumeration and assessment of properties in catchment areas yet to be covered are ongoing with a view of bringing all areas of our local governments on a common platform of uniform property taxation devoid of inconsistency of complaints," he disclosed.

The commissioner added that, to facilitate the delivery of affrdable housing units to low income earners, government was procuring mortgage facilities while inculcating a new culture of home ownership.

"The plan is to kick-start the mortgage programme by encouraging some civil servants to acquire/own their inhabited staff quarters in the pilot phase. Thereafter, the scope and intensity of the mortgage programme will be widened to embrace willing partners in the implementation of the scheme," he said.

Oyekan went further, "I wish stress with emphasis that the reality of the all-pervading global economic meltdown will not dissuade government from prosecuting this programme as this is identified as one of the means of dousing the harsh effect of soaring and seeming uncormfortable cost of building materials. Presently, high-level discussions are being held with stakeholders particularly the participating banks, with a view to resolving emergent greu areas. Hopefully, the drea will be translated to reality soon."

yomi_like:
I wish I can get hold of u and nak big stick on ur idiotic head , mumu, odee, oloshi oloriburuku, weree mtcheeeewwww

skyfall:

Stop comparing tax-funded infrastructure with private businesses. Tarzan is a private business. You really are what people call you.

yomi_like:
I wish I can get hold of u and nak big stick on ur idiotic head , mumu, odee, oloshi oloriburuku, weree mtcheeeewwww

geez*:


Sometimes I wonder how people reason. Do you have a clear background on the position of the bridge and its funding structure? Aren't there even tolled roads built by governments in other climes? Like I said and still insist, you don't have to ply the bridge to move from Lekki to Ikoyi. Would this argument have come up if the bridge wasn't erected. It's a matter if choice dunce

Even the Lagos-Badagry Expresway which the government has raised bonds to build will be tolled but guess what, the service lane won't be tolled and is an alternative road even though its expected to be more congested

geez*:


Iwo gan gan lolori buruku. Omo ale

hercules07: I would rather they built world class facility that will be tolled than the nonsense we are putting up with, let the lawyer test the legality of this contract, it will help the government in the future.

Ilaje44:

You are right here. However, you should not have called the lawyer a hungry lawyer. He has a grievance and has taken the approiprate measure. That does not make him hungry nor notice me. People should be encouraged to go along the same route if they have grievances with their govt or co-citizens.

Kobojunkie: Naira 500(per day) in a country where minimum wage is still at about Naira 18,000 per month? Na wa oo!

Jerie:

Stray sp.erms like you are one of the reasons I believe condoms should be free and abortion should be legalized.

geez*:
Just an attention seeking hungry lawyer

naptu2: The project is not tax funded. It's funded via a bond (loan) which the government will have to pay back (remember back in 2009 when people were complaining that Lagos was borrowing too much? Well this was funded by one of such loans).

naptu2: Truth is, there's no way that that bridge would have been toll free or cheaper than the expressway. I can imagine the chaos that would create. What I advocate for is reasonable toll fare. 500 naira is too much. Since they charge 120/150 on the express, I think they should charge 200 naira on the bridge.

sucess001: when some of us say fashola is elitist...some id.iots will come and be spewing intellectually sunding arguments...how can N500 per passage b fair? how much did the bridge cost? is it likethey wanna make the moni in one yr?

really...if the state govt keeps tollin every infrastructure it builds...then someone needs to account for the income generated by a state which possesses the highest tax and revenue generation capability in the entire country!


no one will understand the level of corruption perpetrated byu fashola and tinubu till another party come into power...then...u ll understand the monumental fraud fashola represents..

naptu2:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1036417

take dat: I see nothing wrong with tolling the newly built bridge since it is a PPP arrangement but the toll should be reduced and made affordable for the common man. Those condemning this move for reasons that it was funded through tax payers money should as well ask the government to stop collecting fares from people using the BRT and Lag buses since they are both funded through tax payers money. This arrangement is obtainable in developed countries as long as there is an alternative route for those unwilling to pay toll.

idupaul: Even though I was against the tolling of the Lekki corridor I don't think tolling that bridge is wrong afterall there was no bridge there before so Mr Lawyer can follow where him de follow before... And pls can't can we stop calling that bridge a suspension bridge cos that bridge and suspended on those fancy strings , its all cosmetic