LEKKI-EPE WAY TOLLING: THE BIG FRAUD

I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.
--- Charles De Gaulle (1890 - 1970)

The people of Eti-Osa especially those that live around the Lekki-Epe way are finding out the hard way what Charles De Gaulle found out several years ago that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians. When the whole idea of expanding the Lekki-Epe way, most people believed it was just another democracy dividend, the reward of having Action Congress (believed to be the modern day Awosits) in power especially given the woeful performance of the PDP Governors across several states. Many people including myself did not bother to find out the terms of the expansion especially since it was proposed as a public private partnership (a relatively new concept in this clime). Many people found out very late that and understandably so that the existing road will be expanded and tolled and shockingly at three different points in a residential area and within the same local government and a distance of less than 24km between first and third toll points (This must be a first in the world).
A lot of things have been written and said about this road expansion but I will only concern myself with reasons why this project must be considered for what it is exactly – a monumental fraud - and why citizens must rise up to ensure that tolling is not successfully done.

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
--- Aldous Huxley (1894 - 1963), "Proper Studies", 1927

There are several facts about this Lekki road expansion that many people are not aware of or even seem to ignore out rightly.

1. Even though the road has been concessioned, the Lagos state government (LASG) has actually committed N5 billion ($42 million) of tax payers to the project and this facts sits pretty on the website of Standard bank and Mr. Fashola said that much in one of his investor road shows in the city of Dubai.

http://corporateandinvestment.standardbank.co.za/sa/news_centre/news_centre.jsp?from=recent&mediaid=313

http://www.lagosstate.gov.ng/index.php?page=speechdetail&spid=324&mnu=governor

2. The Lekki-Epe way is about the only visible sign of government presence in the area which is dominated by private sector investment in roads, schools, hospitals, provision of water etc.
3. There are many residents of this area who pay over N3 million in income tax alone year and are being denied the very minimum of having a free road to their house.
4. Contrary to the expectations of most people, the road will only be expanded for a distance of less than 25 Km. The concessionaire (LCC) is only required to provide median for the remaining 24 km which really defeats the notion that the road is being done to prepare for the expected Megacity traffic from the Lekki Free trade zone.
5. LCC has a non-competing clause agreement which essentially means that LASG cannot provide an alternative means of transport (water or rail) for the people of Eti-Osa save the Coastal Road for the next 30 years even though they are supposed to pay their tax dutifully.
6. The Lekki road is being constructed by an incompetent contractor (Hitech) and has spent over 4 years doing less than 20% of the work.
7. The Governor set up a committee to examine the issues in dispute that led to the August Protest and while the team was still at work; LCC proceeded to accelerate the pace of work at the Chevron toll even while it was being recommended for demolition.
8. LCC plans to commence tolling on 3rd January, 2011 even though the average peak period travel time from Ajah to Victoria Island is over 3 hrs compared to less than 1 hr before the Lekki expansion commenced.
9. The Lekki-Epe way is not an expressway as it has posted speed limit of 60 km/hr even in the completed section
10. The Lekki road project is the most audacious fraud a Government can commit against its own people, the most flagrant disregard of tax payers and exploitation of the citizens.

Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you're a man, you take it.
--- Malcolm X (1925 - 1965), Malcolm X Speaks, 1965

The Lekki-Epe way residents have a good opportunity for mass mobilization given that there are many estates with organised resident associations along the road and the indigenes have already demonstrated their unity of purpose during the great Lekki protest of August.
Many residents, workers and indigenes in the Lekki area are opposed to the idea of tolling, even though there are some who think that one toll plaza should be just fine but there has not been an opportunity for them to voice out their opinion and even the hugely successful Lekki protest of August took many by surprise especially the 8-4 workers (5am – 9pm in the case of Lekki). There are also those who believe that the toll amount is the most important thing as long as it is affordable.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
--- Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968), Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963

The Lekki toll fraud is the first in the state and many Lagosians cannot be bothered because they have no business in the Lekki area and view the area as a rich area and this has worked well in LASG’s favour but the lesson of history is clear – this will be the first of many more.

Power never takes a back step - only in the face of more power.
--- Malcolm X (1925 - 1965), Malcolm X Speaks, 1965

It is clear that LCC and LASG are determined to go ahead with the toll plan except there is a determined resistance from the stakeholders and I will outline a few of what can still be done.
1. All stakeholders (Resident estates, Workers union, Local communities) should come together to outline where they stand on the issue of tolling and take every necessary step to ensure that the people are respected.

2. It is very important to ensure that tolling does not commence on 3rd January, 2011.

3. Every eligible person should get registered in preparation for the forthcoming elections and make it a duty ensure that no member of this present LAGOS state House of Assembly returns to the house except they promise to pass the Freedom of information bill in Lagos and ensure transparency in the government of Lagos. I have only refrained from asking that Mr. Fashola be voted out because I’m yet to see a better opposition candidate (they probably do exist) and clearly do not regards the PDP as a party to be trusted.

4. The Lekki toll is not the right opportunity to show one’s class or level of affluence in the society as LCC plans through the SWIFT and e-Tag toll classification. If you really work hard for your money, the duty you owe LASG is to pay your tax and they owe you the provision of basic infrastructure including a free road to your house.

5. A press conference is planned for Wednesday 22nd December, 2010 and next steps would be announced. The only reason LCC and Fashola have succeeded thus far is because we’ve been docile and now is the time to put our money where our mouth is. The tolling has been perfectly planned for the holiday period when many people are expected to have travelled and opposition will be weak.

Why now? Why not now?
--- Lekki Residents, Resolution 2010


Many people ask if it’s not too late to resist the tolling and why now when so much has been spent and my response is basically given above.
1. While it may appear a bit late, it is still very timely because our success will send a strong message to corrupt politicians and greedy bankers to take their stakeholders seriously. The banks in this case recognise that this a very risky financing project as it is a clear case of enslaving the people which is why they had to get LASG to commit N5 billion and also ensure 1500 hectares of prime land is deposited as collateral. The bankers are business men and will do anything that gives them more money except people react appropriately.
2. This is an election period and there is no better time to get our elected officials to listen to us than now.
3. The whole transaction has been shrouded in secrecy with active collaboration from the House of Assembly and if we don’t help ourselves now, we’ve lost it.
4. People ask if LCC does not deserve credit for the “good work” they’ve done so far and my simple response is always a question - if you pay your tax, do you deserve a good road to your house or what did the residents of Bourdillon in Ikoyi do to deserve a good road to their house?
5. There are rumours that the project cost is N50 billion for expansion of 25 km of the road and provision of median for another 25 km which gives an average of N1 billion per kilometre, more than 3 times the FG benchmark of N320 million per kilometre for a new road.
6. The ACN with total domination of the House of Assembly and Local Governments and has yet to show any sign of transparency in its affairs. Mr. Fashola has always avoided telling us the cost of any road project.
7. There is no alternative to the toll road at the moment. The much touted Oniru bypass cannot be an alternative because it’s been built well in advance of the tolling and even makes our journey more tortuous than what we had before.
8. Lekki tolling is the start of a new method of slavery and needs to be nipped in the bud right now.