The presence of a single route presents the risk of a single point of failure. I.e the area becomes inaccessible when there is major problem on that single route.

so is this a failure on the part of the company LCC or the state government?

The govt and LCC should prepare for more protests and court actions from people and those businesses fenced off. Imagine that Total filling stations by Palms mall, all those banks and other businesses.

@dis guy, the story keeps changing.

Initially, we were told that the coastal road is phase 2 of the project but that it is dependent on LASG developing coastal barriers (something I haven't seen yet).

When protests started, LCC told us they would provide alternative routes.

When the noise about the alternative route started getting loud, LCC claimed the alternative route is the responsibility of LASG.

Now, the LCC fliers are telling us that the coastal road will be phase 2 and tolled!

johnie:

@dis guy, the story keeps changing.

Initially, we were told that the coastal road is phase 2 of the project but that it is dependent on LASG developing coastal barriers (something I haven't seen yet).

When protests started, LCC told us they would provide alternative routes.

When the noise about the alternative route started getting loud, LCC claimed the alternative route is the responsibility of LASG.

Now, the LCC fliers are telling us that the coastal road will be phase 2 and tolled!

The one in bold makes more sense . . . but a question raised on another threads gets me wondering why a 27 year old road is now tolled.

Turns out the protesters actually targeted Gov Fashola who was on his way to open the admin block of the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

He was able to calm the protesters down and continue his trip to the FTZ.

He who fights today and runs away lives to fight another day.

Soooooooooooo?



Friday, August 20, 2010 07:13





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The residents who referred to themselves as “indigenes of Eti-Osa”, declared their rejection of any additional financial burden that the proposed tolls will have place on them. Photo: GBENRO ADEOYE

Lekki residents protest planned road toll

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By Gbenro Adeoye

August 20, 2010 12:31AM

Residents of Eti-Osa East and West Local Councils in Lagos State yesterday blocked traffic along the Lekki- Epe expressway to protest plans by the state government to collect tolls from vehicles plying the 24km road. Workers, students and other commuters were stranded as the residents, who have always threatened to halt the plan by Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to begin the collection of fees on the expressway, took to the streets carrying placards. The communities along the road have previously made several calls to the Lagos State government to stop the concession company which reconstructed the road, giving it six lanes, to erect toll gates along the path in order to recoup its investments. During yesterday’s protest march, the people, who referred to themselves as “indigenes of Eti-Osa”, said they could not afford the additional financial burden that the proposed tolls will place on them. Carrying placards and chanting various songs, the participants - in a rather peaceful protest - made their way to Jakande junction of the road, where they waited for the state governor, Babatunde Fashola, who was billed to pass the road on his way to the Lekki Free Trade Zone to attend an investment forum. “We are not going to pay any amount on this road,” said Ismail Oladipupo, one of the protesters. “We are having this protest to draw attention to this area; when the protest affects economic activities, people will realise what we can do when they start to collect money at the toll gates.” The state government in April 2006, signed an agreement with Lekki Concession Company (LCC) under the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) scheme that would span a period of 30 years; an agreement which allows the company to upgrade and expand the busy road and recoup its investment before ownership reverts back to the government. The company is currently test-running its facilities at the newly constructed toll gate, but the residents said two additional gates are being proposed by the company. The company is yet to say the amount that will be collected as toll from motorists, but the residents fear it would range from N100 to N250 per toll. “How can we be paying at three gates? We reject any amount, even if it’s N5. This is because any additional financial burden will tell on everything, from the transport fare, to the price of pepper, clothes, and everything. We reject this commercialisation in our area,” said Bashiru Ahmed, an elderly man who was part of the protest march. The protesters were also critical of the government for endorsing the arrangement in their area, saying they are being used as guinea pigs. “Why here?” a youth, Adamson Kamorudeen asked, “Why not elsewhere. LASU/Iba road recently also constructed by the state government did not have anything like this.” Protest not necessary Mr. Fashola, whose motorcade was held up for hours by the protesters who accused him of insensitivity, eventually showed up and was forced to address the protesters who had waited for about two hours, cramming the road and blocking movements. However, his appeal and admonition were buried by shouts of “No toll gates” from the protesters. In his address, Mr. Fashola blamed the protesters for the traffic congestion caused by the march. He, however, assured them that a committee had been set up to look into the issue. “This protest is not necessary,” he said. “This is a commercial issue, don’t turn it into a political issue. I don’t think it is fair to paralyse this road; people are going to earn their livelihood; children are going to school.” His address did not however appear to have ended the matter although the protesters agreed to allow free flow of traffic afterwards. Some of the protesters and their leaders who remained on the scene after the governor left, accused Mr. Fashola of insincerity. “Yes, he has asked us to nominate people for the committee which we have done since, but we have not heard anything from him since we forwarded the document to them,” said Babs Akinlolu, who identified himself as a former executive director of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). Some of the motorists whose movement were affected by the protest sympathised with the Lekki residents. “It will affect me; it will affect my business. I am surprised that this government is not thinking about the poor masses at all,” said a trader, Emeka Ofor. Testing the waters As a way of sensitising motorists to its readiness to begin the collection of tolls on the Lekki-Epe expressway, the company last week began the distribution of leaflets at one of the three toll gates. In the leaflet, it spelt out the key benefits of the project and payment method of the charges, among other details. The company had earlier fixed May, 2010 as the commencement date for the toll collection. In reaction to the company’s move, some members of the Eti-Osa community at a forum organised to convey their grievances over the company’s plan to go ahead with the toll, resolved last week to stop the plan. Residents claim that at a meeting between them and Mr Fashola on July 20, 2010 it was resolved that a committee be set up to settle the issue of paying tolls on the road. At the meeting, it was also agreed that another road, which would serve as an alternative route, would be made toll-free. But part of the information on the leaflet, however, showed that the coastal road which is supposed to serve that purpose for those who cannot afford to pay the toll fees, would no longer be free. “This is reckless, arrogant and provocative, and we wonder who else LCC will respect or listen to if it can afford to ignore the governor and the House. LCC is part of the committee just as it has been invited by the House committee in order to assist its finding. So why the test run?” said Adewale Sanni, the convener and spokesperson of the Eti-Osa forum. Another resident, who asked not to be named, equally expressed dismay at the development. “It is going to inconvenience people, because to pay from here to there is not fair. The access road that is supposed to be an alternative, you will also have to pay toll, so what are the options? The one you have now is at Oniru side and around Jakande to come in and out of Lekki. But the roads are very bad, and I wouldn’t want to spoil my car. Those who cannot afford to mess up their car will be forced to pay the toll and I would prefer to travel on a straight road. I just think it’s not fair.”

Source: 234NEXT



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Investors worry over Lekki free trade zone

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By Gbenro Adeoye

August 20, 2010 12:25AM

One of the objectives of the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) is to “create an economic haven” in Lagos and attract local and foreign investors, but these objectives appear threatened, given the challenges prospective investors say they could face at the zone.

Chief among their concerns, expressed during the Investors Forum held at the zone yesterday, were power supply and roads, which some of them identified as integral to the success of the plan.

According to Yogesh Yengel, the general manager of Insignia Prints, one of the five companies already set up in the trade zone, said he was looking forward to seeing how the project develops, “the poor state of power supply in the country should be given more attention.” Mr Yengel commended recent efforts made by the state government in road construction, but berated the state of power supply.

“We need power within the zone; somebody who will give us power resources. Government is already working on road, though not all, but we want somebody who can supply us with continuous power supply,” said Mr Yengel.

He added that in the meantime, his company would rely on generating sets, but warned that “it should not be continuous; if we want to continue high growth in the industry, we need constant power supply.”

First phase kicks off

The zone which comprises 16,500 hectares of land to the southeast of Lagos, is expected to attract investments in oil and gas, food and beverages, agro-processing, clothing and textiles, retail, pharmaceuticals, housing and tourism, amongst others. The project’s first phase kicked off yesterday with the commissioning of the “One Stop Shop and Administrative Complex of LFTZ” by the state governor, Babatunde Fashola.

However, a local investor who came “to check things out”, Jude Ohiri, had said the traffic situation on Lekki-Epe Expressway, leading to the zone from the city centre “is something to be worried about.” “I see that they have started to expand the road, but it doesn’t look like it’s enough to stop the situation there,” he said.

However, Mr Fashola, while speaking to journalists after the commissioning exercise, described traffic congestion as “a sign of prosperity” in the affected city.

“Traffic jam is a sign of development; there is traffic jam in Beijing and you will not find traffic jam in the desert,” he said.

Mr Fashola, however, assured investors that “all of their concerns will be dealt with”, citing the ongoing road expansion along Lekki-Epe Expressway as one way his administration is rising to the challenge.

Mr Fashola also called on more investors to take advantage of what he described as “the biggest market in Nigeria, with 140 million people and Lagos has 18 million of that figure.” He added that his government will make use of the media and the Internet to continue to publicise the importance of investing in LFTZ

Source:234NEXT

Lekki-Epe express road concession critical to success of LFTZ, says Fashola

Friday, 20 August 2010 01:14 Joshua Bassey & Austin Imhonlele



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…commissions administrative block of LFTZ 

Even as hundreds of residents of the Lekki corridor took to the streets on Thursday to protest tolling on Lekki-Epe express road, Governor Babatunde Fashola has hinted that the success of the multi-billion naira Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) and economic prosperity of that area of Lagos is tied to the successful execution of the road project by the concessionaire- Lekki Concession Company (LCC).

This is as a fundamental step towards the full realisation of the dream of the LFTZ was taken on Thursday with the commissioning of the administration block of the complex, even as over 70 investors in diverse sectors of the economy have declared strong interest in doing business at the zone said to be the largest in sub-Sahara Africa.

They include oil and gas, manufacturing, tourism development, building construction, textile, leather, rubber, electrical/electronics, among others. Among the incentives investors at the trade zone are to enjoy include 100 percent repatriation of profits and dividends (if the investor so wished), 100 percent foreign ownership of investments, 100 percent tax holiday, 100 percent permission to sell manufactured, imported and assembled goods in the domestic market, 100 percent restriction free to hire foreign employees, waiver on all expatriate quotas for companies operating in the zone, among others.

Commissioning the facility which is also to serve as one-stop-shop for would-be investors, with the Customs and Immigration Services as well as Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) already on ground to facilitate easy documentation, Fashola said if Nigeria must develop and compete with successful economies around the world, the citizens must be ready to make the required sacrifices such as accepting tolling on the Lekki-Epe express road in the interest of the economy.

The governor who appealed to aggrieved persons to channel their complaints to the committee recently constituted to look into such complaints, said the ongoing reconstruction of the road by the concessionaire is critical to the success of the trade zone.

He noted that the redevelopment of the road and ongoing expansion of Lagos-Badagry road are envisaged to facilitate the transportation of goods in and out of the free trade zone and further open up the economy of Lagos to the world.

Source:Businessdayonline.com

Lagos-Badagry road is being expanded to ten lanes though not concessioned.

Will it be tolled?

Just wondering,

Lekki residents stage protest, dare Fashola over toll gate levy
By OLUWOLE FAROTIMI
Friday, August 20, 2010



Residents of Lekki and Ajah communities on Thursday staged a protest to express their misgivings on the toll proposed by the concessionaire of the ever busy Lekki-Epe Expressway on motorists.

The protesters had in the early hours of yesterday laid ambush on the road ahead of the Lagos State governor’s visit to the zone brandishing placards with inscriptions such as “ Fashola we know your hands are tied but help us to fight these tyrants”, “LCC is here to rip us off,” “We are being enslaved in our land,” “Remove your gates from our roads and go,” among others said they would resist the state government and the concessionaires in their bid to impose the toll on them.

According to their spokesman, Mr. Adewale Sanni, the governor had no other option than to urgently look into the various issues raised or face civil unrest from the people. “The governor has assured us he would look into the matter and set up a committee on the issue. But he said that before. Therefore, we were surprised that the tolling plan was on in spite of the opposition by the people. We feel his hands are tied. But the people will not be taken for granted,” he threatened.

He said the protest staged yesterday was a signal to the government which was laying claim to democratic credential to feel the pulse of the people and do what was right, adding that the issue remained that the concession programme was shrouded in secrecy and not transparent.

Addressing the protesters, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola appealed to the residents for understanding on the concession initiative of the government on the road, assuring that the grey areas causing their agitation would be sorted out to the benefit of both parties. The governor explained that the tolling of the road was in order to enable the concessionaire recoup the investment it made, adding that although it may not be easy initially, the long-term benefits to the community would far out-weigh the challenges.

He said although it was a novel idea in Nigeria, tolling had been employed across the globe to execute multi-million dollar projects with far-reaching socio-economic gains adding that in other jurisdictions apart from Nigeria it had worked as alternative of road development. The Lekki-Epe Expressway was given to Lekki Concession Company (LCC) in collaboration with Lagos State government to develop the road as part of plans to ensure rapid transformation of Lekki Peninsula into a world-class free trade zone.

Source: Sun newspaper

In a telephone interview with STV yesterday, the MD of LCC explained that the essence of having three toll gates is to spread the toll to be paid by users (I.e reduce the fare at each gate) instead of users having to pay a single large amount at one point.

^^^^^lol, so when N15 is paid in three instalments of N5 it is reduced in total value, rflmao. Three toll gates within 24km is excessive, those leaving after Abraham Adesayan would pay three tolls to and fro on each trip to they make via Victoria Island. There should be free alternative route to justify tax payers right.

As per the tolls, two gates should have been adequate. One at Palms, and another at the Ajah end.
I guess they were targeting people who will use the road between Ikota-Ajah and 1st roundabout. Makes sense for them to put in three.

To ameliorate, they had better charge N50 or something like that. Any attempt to charge premium, people will revolt.
As per the coastal road . . . wtf How could the government concession that?

cOMMON TALK STRAIGHT FORWARD

When is the completion date again

apart from the protest yesterday, is there still heavy traffic there?

Sorry Dis Guy, I am currently not on ground (on vac) so can't give an accurate account.

Anyone with info on this?

Lagos lawyer and activist, Mr. Ebunolu Adegboruwa has sued LCC, LASG, Eti-Osa LG and others over the issues of toll collection on the expressway.

Among other things, he is asking the court to restrain the parties from collecting tolls on the road, dismantling the erected plaza, among other things.

Meanwhile, Governor Fashola has inaugurated the 15 man committee to iron out the issues. The committee has till the end of September to submit its report.

johnie:

Lagos lawyer and activist, Mr. Ebunolu Adegboruwa has sued LCC, LASG, Eti-Osa LG and others over the issues of toll collection on the expressway.

Among other things, he is asking the court to restrain the parties from collecting tolls on the road, dismantling the erected plaza, among other things.

Meanwhile, Governor Fashola has inaugurated the 15 man committee to iron out the issues. The committee has till the end of September to submit its report.

This is getting serious.

While the efforts of the Lagos State Government in ensuring that segments of the state partake in industrial and economic development is commendable, the lack of adequate information, consultation and engagement of the people before the project was embarked upon was a great error. Gone are the days when governments in the country, in their wisdom, could unilaterally impose a conceived idea (no matter how well conceived) on the people without consultation

See link below for more . . . .

Punch: Lekki-Epe Expressway toll - Govt versus people


.

^^^^




The raging controversy over the erection and collection of tolls on the yet-to-be-completed Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos State, Nigeria, is a classic example of the consequences of dearth of communication between the government and the governed. The imperative of communication has been brought to the fore by the rejection of the idea of toll payment by the residents of the area covered by the expressway. While the purpose of this write-up is not to look at the merit or demerit of the proposed expressway (and in sincerity, the whole contract issue relating to this road raises a lot of questions), the importance of respect for the citizenry on the part of those fortunate enough to be in government is a virtue that should be strenuously cultivated.


Lekki Toll Gate

The Lekki-Epe axis of Lagos State covers areas that include both the high-brow and the relatively impoverished parts of the state. It includes the wealthy, the intelligentsia and the struggling masses of Nigeria. In reality, the bulk of the population of these areas actually consists of the struggling masses – the subsistence farmers, the fisher men, labourers and what have you. The axis might appear affluent around the Eti-Osa portion, perhaps up to and including Sangotedo and Ajah; but a trip to the Epe end would tell a different story. I had lived around this area and travelled this road extensively.


While the efforts of the Lagos State Government in ensuring that segments of the state partake in industrial and economic development is commendable, the lack of adequate information, consultation and engagement of the people before the project was embarked upon was a great error. Gone are the days when governments in the country, in their wisdom, could unilaterally impose a conceived idea (no matter how well conceived) on the people without consultation. A successful idea has many stakeholders to contend with. While the decision to single out that area of Lagos for a Public Private Partnership (PPP) remains curious, the key issue involves the length of time granted to the concessionaire, Lekki Concession Company Limited, LCC, the content of the agreement between the Lagos State Government and LCC, the rate of construction of the proposed road and the haste with the implementation of toll collection by LCC.


The idea of Public Private Partnership is universally acclaimed and practised. However, for a Third World country like Nigeria, special efforts should be made by governments to ensure that its citizens are not subjected to undue exploitation. Experience has shown that government control and regulation of such projects when completed are practically non-existent. A 49.5 kilometre road was awarded at billions of Naira by Lagos State Government in its wisdom and for whatever reason to a consortium of questionable composition. This project was awarded in April 2006, and, as at now, only less than five per cent of the road had been completed. Yet, the concessionaire, LCC, is extremely keen to start toll collection with a test run completed on August 10. The issue of the slow rate of progress of work is one of the issues affected residents are concerned about. Not only this, the haste at implementing toll collection by LCC also brings a vital question to the fore.


The idea of Public Private Partnership is to provide a social amenity without undue financial strain on the part of government. The idea is to free scarce resources which can then be utilised in other areas of development. However, a situation where a 49.5 km stretch of road is only about five per cent completed with imminent toll collection is worrying. The main question here is this: was it part of the agreement between the concessionaire and the government that money raised from such toll collections would be used in financing the remaining parts of the road? The other issue is the length of time granted the concessionaire to operate the road before transfer to the government. Thirty years is no child‘s play. The other questions are: would the suffering residents of this area be subjected to three decades of exploitation by an obviously influential and powerful concessionaire before heaving a sigh of relief? Would they have to pay toll for almost three decades? At what point would toll collection stop?


The other area of concern is government seeming lack of respect for the inhabitants of the proposed road. There is a worrying government apathy and reluctance to address pertinent issues raised by the people of the affected area. The people‘s complaints centred amongst others on lack of communication and engagement on the part of government, the financial impact of double toll payment on a segment of the corridor, the reluctance of the government to provide an alternative non-tolled corridor and the seeming insensitivity of LCC to the people‘s rejection of the idea of multiple tolling. Merely appealing to the people to accept an intolerable idea as being done by Governor Fashola is just not the solution.


There is no doubt that a lesson would have been learnt by the Lagos State Government from this whole imbroglio. It is apt for the government to accept its mistakes and make urgently required amends. The best the government can do is to return to the drawing board and make efforts to reach out to the people in effecting a panacea for the issues at stake. Ignoring or simply using the paraphernalia of government to impose an unpopular policy or idea would negatively harm the legacies of the incumbent governor. There should be clear guidelines on when toll collection should start and for how long within the 30-year period of the agreement with LCC. Giving LCC power to operate unfettered would only impoverish the citizens tremendously. Are there control machineries in place? What is the rationale in collecting tolls on a road that is only five per cent completed? If premature toll collection is to finance the rest of the road, then why is the agreement with LCC fixed at 30 years? What does it cost the government to review the location, and in fact, the reduction in the number of tolling point on the road.

Source: Punch

^
Source:
Punch
 

Lekki-Epe Expressway toll - Govt versus people

By Olusegun Fakoya

 

Tuesday, 24 Aug 2010

After seeing three Indian cities this week, I would say let's just pay the toll and get on with life.
I drove through a toll road in Kolkatta today. The condition of this road is such that my dog should not pay toll to pass through that.
Won't say more than that. Let Fashola, LCC, and Tinubu do their business. But we need that road.

AjanleKoko:

After seeing three Indian cities this week, I would say let's just pay the toll and get on with life.
I drove through a toll road in Kolkatta today. The condition of this road is such that my dog should not pay toll to pass through that.
Won't say more than that. Let Fashola, LCC, and Tinubu do their business. But we need that road.

Agreed, we need the road. But maybe we also need an alternative route for those who can't afford the toll don't you think? For me, the Calcutta example you gave is not what we should be aiming for. Let us have the road, let it be good enough so that people who can afford it wouldn't mind paying tolls. Let us also have transparency and fairness.


By the way, I am wondering, how good is the public transport system in Lekki area? If people can leave their cars at home and take the bus instead, the tolling may not have a big impact on them. The fact that everybody drives actually contributes to the road congestion. I wonder if Fashola and co looked at this option seriously. Maybe public transportation could be a bigger cash cow for govt. than tool gates?

X-2-X:

Agreed, we need the road. But maybe we also need an alternative route for those who can't afford the toll don't you think? For me, the Calcutta example you gave is not what we should be aiming for. Let us have the road, let it be good enough so that people who can afford it wouldn't mind paying tolls. Let us also have transparency and fairness.

Okay, let me be clear.
I have seen some of the worst roads I have ever seen in my life, in India this week. And one of them was a toll road. Have you seen that Lekki Road?
Trust me, the toll is well worth it.

AjanleKoko:

Okay, let me be clear.
I have seen some of the worst roads I have ever seen in my life, in India this week. And one of them was a toll road. Have you seen that Lekki Road?
Trust me, the toll is well worth it.

While you do have a point, the comparison is really not necessary. The fact that poor roads are tolled in India does not mean we should be satisfied with an "Ok" road that is tolled in Lagos. Why can't we compare the road to better roads instead of looking backwords. I was in Houston recently and the road network is "a killer". The sam houston toll way/beltway 8 is tolled with about 6-7 lanes on either side of the road. The road runs in an elliptical shape round the city of houston, it is TOLLED but then you are not forced to use it because of the feeder lane that serves as an alternate route. THe only thing is that you have to deal with red lights if you don't use the tolled road. Lekki toll road can emulate that and not a bad road in India

Anybody ply the expressway these last few day would realise that feeder roads are required.

While work on the median has stretched as far as Igbo Efon (between 3rd round about and Chevron), traffic jams at choke points have become hectic.

LCC needs to "create" the third lane between Amazon Energy and 2nd round about.

I realise that work on the underground waste water channels between 2nd round about and the 3rd is delaying expanding the choke points because these channels must solidify before a fresh lanes are laid over them.

If feeder roads existed between 2nd round about and 3rd, the traffic jam would have been less hectic.

I hope the study of the coast line between Epe and Badagry would result in putting in place appropriate coastal defences which is a pre-condition for the coastal road according to LCC.

The road running parallel to the expressway beside Oba Oyekan Estate in Lekki Phase 1 is currently under construction. Work on this road which ought to be an alternative had been abandoned for some months now.

I reiterate however that there is no alternative between 2nd round about and the 3rd except you drive along the shoreline (at your own risk!)

phuck_NL:

While you do have a point, the comparison is really not necessary. The fact that poor roads are tolled in India does not mean we should be satisfied with an "Ok" road that is tolled in Lagos. Why can't we compare the road to better roads instead of looking backwords. I was in Houston recently and the road network is "a killer". The sam houston toll way/beltway 8 is tolled with about 6-7 lanes on either side of the road. The road runs in an elliptical shape round the city of houston, it is TOLLED but then you are not forced to use it because of the feeder lane that serves as an alternate route. THe only thing is that you have to deal with red lights if you don't use the tolled road. Lekki toll road can emulate that and not a bad road in India

+1.

+2

@THIS TOLL TALK IS BULLSHIT. The road ought to have been completed before any talk on tolling. However, being greedy people they decided to build the toll gate or is it plaza before expanding the road they were meant to do. The traffic these days is horrendous. Even if the expansion is completed, there should not be any tolling for at least one year because of what we are going through at the moment.