₦airaland Forum

Upon all our money that he has been stealing, he couldn't create a world class facility for himself at LASUTH, which he practically owns, just because he would have to share it with the rest of us. Well, his predicament shows that he is not a god, and that God Almighty has been hearing our cries for justice over the nefarious activities of this man. Lord, there are still more of them, even here on Nairaland, people like Eko-Ile, Seanet02, Gbawe and others who defend the sickening actions of their false god here. Father in Heaven, please help us deal with them, even as they are dealing with the common man in Nigeria. Fashola, Aregbesola, Amosun and Ajimobi must not escape your wrath, O Lord. Please O Lord, deal with them, even as they continue to deal with the people they're supposed to be leading by denying them and their children educational opportunities that existed before they came into office. As they deny the people free health care, O Lord, deny them access likewise, to the quality healthcare they run abroad to with our money everytime they sneeze. Father, as they oppress the poor, oppress them right back, O Lord. As they deny the children of the poor access to higher education, Father, please ensure that their own children WASTE their opportunities for higher education and become useless to themselves and their thieving parents, In the Mighty Name of Jesus! Amen!!

Anyone notice the story told by the young woman about the extra N200,000 she's looking for to pay her school fees? You can see Fashola's policy of raising school fees to deny access to educational opportunities for poorer people in society is beginning to yield the intended fruit. It is war against the poor, rather than war against poverty in Fashola's Lagos State. I weep for Lagosians.

ola_pluto:
If our fathers thought the way you're thinking, then SW will not be buzzing with business activities as it is witnessing currently. We all know the ground is hard up North. Your theory will fit well into FOX news special. The way you muddled your way to make yourself look sensible is indeed commendable. Next time you see that okada man, help me say ranka dede to him. Btw, do you have a job?

Your fathers? It seems you're the one lacking understanding here. My raising the alarm on the recent sustained influx of able-bodied youths from the northern reaches of Nigeria into Yorubaland is not aimed at a purge of northerners. It is more of a call for the authorities to be alert and alive to their responsibilities. We know that whenever a massacre occurs in the north, the pattern is always that it is the vagrant youths on the streets that are used to execute these pogroms. We need to be mindful of who is here and what they're doing, is all I'm saying. I'm convinced that responsible leaders (and I don't mean just those in charge of the machinery of government) would have action plans in place in the event that any sleeper cells amongst these newly arriving hordes is activated. I am suggesting serious covert surveillance, and heavy handed responses to even the slightest act of aggression, like the recent attacks in Ekiti and Ogun states by "Fulani Herdsmen". We know the herdsmen are usually the advance party into any territory marked for annexation, and as such, "Yoruba Farmers" could also be mobilised into the rural heartlands and countryside, well-equipped for the job of defending our farmlands from cattle encroachment, with the remit to annihilate completely, any aggressors. In fact an alliance between Middle Belt and Yoruba "Farmers" should be considered and explored, with a view to eliminating the Fulani threat once and for all!

There is too much operational and religious detail in this for it not to be real. I myself have observed over the last couple of years, an alarming increase in the numbers of northerners suddenly arriving in and taking up residence in Lagos. Most of them are given okadas by their sponsors, and thus learn the layout of the city fairly quickly. I thought it was bad in Lagos, until I visited Ibadan recently. I use the term northerner loosely, as a large number of them are actually not Nigerians, but Chadians, Nigeriens, Malians and Senegalese! I also say "given okadas" because I've personally witnessed at least one individual, who lost his okada to LASTMA for driving against traffic and not wearing a helmet, at Iponri. I saw the same guy the following day, on a brand new Okada!! How could he afford it? This caused me to investigate further, and I'm made to understand that the National Chairman of the NURTW, who is a Fulani, is personally behind the influx of Northern riders into much of the south west. The governors are allowing it because the NURTW pays them huge amounts out of the monies they extort from their own members daily. That's why at least in the South West, the Governors are VERY involved in choosing the NURTW leaders in their states.

Southerners, Christians and Muslims, need to wake up from this state of perpetual slumber that they seem to be in, so much so that they cannot see the strategic weakness in being surrounded by an increasingly large army mostly young, fit, able Northern Okadamen, maiguards, beggars, mai ruwas, mai suyas, mai shais and others in their own towns and cities. Even if this guy is wrong, (and I don't think he is, on the balance of obvious evidence), considering the unrelenting and successful nature of the Boko Haram onslaught, it is time to wake up and smell the coffee, both for Southern Governors and people, and especially the serving and retired men and officers of the Nigerian armed forces and police of Southern origin!

Vanguard is slowly but surely becoming a disreputable rag sheet. How does the picture of hundreds of residents protesting support the revisionist headline that they put up? Why today, weeks after the actual protest? They are clearly collecting money from the LCC Cabal to make it look like the obnoxious and objectionable toll is popular, when in fact it's not. This is how they will eventually drive the peace-loving people of Lekki Peninsula to armed uprising to protest this modern day slavery. I was at the protest, and it was very well attended, bearing in mind the naked RRS Police brutality of December 17th 2011. Thank God for the presence of the soldiers. The RRS bastards were ready to do a repeat of Saturday 17th December all over again!

An insightful article. Every Nigerian must read this article, as well as Harold Smith's memoirs about his time in colonial and post colonial Nigeria. Also read Robert Sydney Smith's The Lagos Consulate: 1851-1861.

As to Lasinoh, may your ignorance not kill you. One of the things Harold Smith said in his memoirs was that Nigeria was the RICHEST British Colony, even including India!! That got my attention, especially as he was referring to an era BEFORE the commercial exploitation of oil!

caseymoney:
Abeg, you guys should pay the price. Your elders had sold your land to the rich and even your unborn generation would pay the price. Toll in that road is not a bad thing. If you live in developed world you will realize it's a good thing for such places like Lekki. This is not Fashola. It's PPP and the private companies must get their ROI.

May God punish you and your generations for daring to bring our honest, taxpaying elders, whose taxes were used to construct the original road in the first place, into this. May the fingers with which you typed that rubbish be afflicted with leprosy, rot and fall off your useless hands. EEeediooott like you!

It is only a slowpoke like you who doesn't even have an international passport, talk less of travelling abroad, that can type this sort of rubbish about living "in developed world". Illiteracy really is a dangerous thing. If it's not Fashola, what was Hakeem Odumosu's RRS Police Unit, under the Governor's Office, doing shooting at and beating protesters during the last protest?

I know poverty is your problem, and it will be your problem until you die your miserable lazy man's death. You are envious of your fellow human beings that have worked hard to get their money, are paying WAY MORE than their fair share in taxes and are providing employment in various workplaces for millions of ordinary Lagosians.

You think we haven't been abroad before, to know that tolls roads are usually complemented by untolled and very motorable alternative routes that run parallel to the tolled roads? Or that INTRA CITY roads are never tolled? Or even that this is the ONLY ROAD IN THE WORLD where toll plazas have been clustered so closely together - 3 within a 23 km stretch of road!

Has your brain gone on permanent holiday because of the change Tinubu and Fashola are giving you? May that money bring untold grief and hardship into your already miserable life. Oloshi, akushe buruku! Just wait till Saturday!

Fashola should be ready to face a MASS PROTEST against the obnoxious Toll Gates on Lekki Epe expressway on Saturday. What is good for the goose is surely good for the gander. Any attempt by RRS or ACN thugs to stop that protest will be STIFFLY RESISTED.

We are ready for WAR in Lekki. If he doubts it, let him bring it on. While he authorises protests sponsored by his godfather, he would use RRS to put down protests against the exploitation of the people by the same tin-god?

Saturday will be very interesting in Ojota and Lekki.

ekt_bear:
How is a the collapse of a building (presumably owned by some private individual) Fashola's fault?

Is your argument that he isn't spending enough money on inspectors? Or that there is something wrong with existing regulation (latter would not be his fault btw, would be that of the legislature.)

Trust the Fashola azz suckers to try to plausibly explain building collapses with the ALARMING FREQUENCY we've been seeing in Lagos State for the last few years away glibly!

I can't believe you have the effrontery to spew that trash up there. Fashola was Bola Tinubu's Personal Lawyer before and after he became Governor in 1999. He was brought in to government as the replacement for Lie Mohammed as Chief-of-Staff, and as it transpired, de-facto deputy governor.

He then went on to become governor for 4 years, and claimed during his first campaign that HE was the architect of a lot of the last minute Tinubu initiatives, like BRT and others. He is now on his second term. He has been in the corridors of power for 12 years now, and you want to excuse him for the mess that is Lagos, Physical Planning wise (forget the flowers and the bright lights, they're just clever make-up and a conduit pipe for stealing money). Just as he takes credit for private projects like the new Shoprite building in Ikeja, which he probably owns, true to the tradition established by his godfather, he must also take the blame for the mishaps that happen while he's on that seat. At any rate, he's ultimately responsible for the fiasco that Physical Planning has become in Lagos State, with people waiting on TINUBU, yes, TINUBU, for permission to build in places like Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Banana Island, Osborne and Park View for up to more than 6 years, in some cases.

It's all about money for him and Thief-nubu, not really about the planning merits or demerits of the project. That's how Tinubu swiped 50% of the Oriental Hotel project, I hear. The Palms refused to play ball, that's why they were blocked off Lekki-Epe expressway!

.

Koruji, it is easy enough to see why you would fight against a sensible subsidy removal. It directly affects your boss, Bola Tinubu, through his Oando, which was listed as one of the top beneficiaries of the subsidies. Yeye dey smell!

Koruji, if you will lead the protest, I will follow you.

I notice you were conspicuously silent on the Lekki Toll Protest and the brutal way Fashola and Tinubu had it put down through their dongari, Supol. Hakeem Odumosu, the Commander of RRS.

What were you saying again about the right of the people to protest

I read some interesting tweets from @BOGbadamosi on my TL this morning. If his recommendations on the Ministry of Works and EFCC can be followed, I could support the subsidy removal.

He will never speak against his own workers. They are doing the bidding of him and every other Fulani that wants to regain power in Nigeria by ALL POSSIBLE MEANS.

Boko Haram is just one of their means.
Financial warfare through Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is another.
Economic warfare through Dikko, the CG of Customs is another.
Hafiz Ringim's Fulanisation of the Police Force top echelons is another.
Population warfare through Niger-isation of the Immigration Service and attendant influx of Aliens into Nigeria is another
Sabotage of NEPA, Railways and other key Infrastructure agencies is another
Sabotage of oil Sector through the Unions (led by another Fulani) is another

These battles are being fought AT ALL LEVELS, with EVERY Fulani at every level of employment in government agencies complicit in the conspiracy.

They must be weeded out. Crucify me all you want, but if you have watched Stargate the Series, and you know the Goauld characters, you'll understand the Fulani mentality!

Sack Hussein Labo and all Fulanis from the Power Infrastructure setup in the country. They are working with Boko Haram to make the country ungovernable for Jonathan, and any little thing they can do to make him unpopular, they will do. That is the way they work. Sack them from Immigration, Customs, Police and the Army too. Don't wait until it is too late, and don't listen to those who will inevitably shout that it is tribalistic. The killings by "Fulani Herdsmen" all over Nigeria are no less tribalistic, and are a covert attempt to "gain" territory over which they can claim "indigeneship".

Force must be met with force, or Nigeria will be at war for decades! This is no time to be queasy! This is no time to be lily-livered. Hard decisions must be taken, and taken NOW!!!

God is beginning to punish the people for their stupidity. We warned the Okada riders that they would be banned if they voted for this man. They listened more to the crisp N1000 notes ACN handed out during the elections. Now, awuf don run belle! Go on soun jare, Fashola. Ban them all. Even ban Keke sef, while you're at it, and ban NURTW for supporting you so visibly in your repression of the people, like they did for you in Lekki over the toll-gate protest recently.

He always makes his supporters suffer. Commissioners were repaid with sacking. Fouad Oki was ingloriously suspended and removed for backing Fashola's return. People can't just see that he's just a ventriloquist's puppet, with Ojuyobo expertly manipulating the puppet from the front, and daring you all to open your dirty teeth in protest, so he can use NURTW and Supol. Hakeem Odumosu's RRS to smash them for you. Yeye people. Dem never ban una finish!

I so loved it when he socked it to the chattering middle classes in Lekki, who were bleating "Fashola is working, Lagos is working" during the election campaigns like demented he-goats. Come see millionaires running for cover in Lekki from Hakeem Odumosu and his men on the one hand, and Eleshin's thugs on the other!!! Ha ha ha! Fashola is cleaning up, for Tinubu!!

mcnepow:
@OP. Nawa ooo for death at the 11th hour. Rippoo to the lost souls and condolence to their families.I disagree with the bolded part.

Your disagreement does not obviate the fact that we've been experiencing an average of a collapsed building every month since Fashola resumed office. The result of eight years of FAILED Physical Planning policy by his godfather, and four years of total cluelessness on the subject from he himself.

EPIC FAIL on Physical Planning for Fashola!

Fashola the Great, is working, Lagos is collapsing! Around his working ears!

Not only have Lagosians ALWAYS PAID TAXES, whether civil servants or not, we are now paying more taxes, mostly duplicated and obnoxious, than we have ever paid before in the history of Nigeria, directly and indirectly.

We are entitled to certain services and infrastructure, based on just our taxes. If the Tinubu/Fashola government were not quite as profligate with our taxes as they've been for the last 12 years, with all their low-quality and grossly over-priced projects being used to suck money out of the treasury, we would have made much more progress. But alas, the hungry lion at Bourdillon must be fed, with his penchant for lubricating the judiciary, the civil service - federal and states, the police, INEC, federal ministers and just about every bribeable person, with free funds from Lagos Taxpayers.

All this is being done at the expense of Lagos Taxpayers. This is the same reason why The Palms, a high footfall venue frequented by taxpayers, is made a laborious place to visit by Tinubu's LCC simply because the owner would not give him a 50% share of the facility, just for approving his Physical Planning application. Same way he acquired 50% of Oriental Hotel, and the same reason he stymied the growth of the Lagos Free Trade Zone (different from the Lekki Free Zone, which is Bola Tinubu's project.) All these paid hacks screaming that we want anything for free in Lagos either don't live here or are part of the privileged ACN crew who simply feed on the rest of us and contribute nothing. They see Lagosians as cows to be milked, which is why they see nothing wrong with tolling an inner city road - first time this has been done ANYWHERE in the world. This is also the highest number of toll plazas per kilometre in the world (3 within 23km).

This is a record-breaking project for all the wrong reasons. It is the most expensive road expansion project in the world, pound for pound, dollar for dollar, which is highly befuddling, considering the relatively low cost of labor in Nigeria, compared to say, the USA, where similar projects, but with higher quality of construction and finish, generally cost about 50% of what is being charged here.

It is the worst designed road expansion project, viewed through the prism of ease-of-use, considering the number of bottlenecks introduced in the form of roundabouts and Toll Plazas.

It is also one of the world's least safe roads to live on now, on account of the ugly fence which makes it impossible to see when a robbery is going on behind the fence. The proliferation of roundabouts on a 3 carriageway freeway also make it quite unsafe to drive on.

In terms of quality, the undulation and bobbling on the road surface in the stretches of road already "completed" begs the question as to why this particular contractor, Hitech, was given the job. The answer lies in the very reason most are opposed to the entire idea of concessioning the road - high-level racketeeering, rapacious corruption, abuse of office and the hardship that all of these issues bring to bear on the lives of the people living within this sophisticated prison facility, referred to copiously in the "agreement" as the "concession area".

Now that they have killed someone, and brutalised the residents in an effort to collect this obnoxious toll by force, against the dictates of the constitution, the idiots have opened a pandora's box of possible armed resistance against their rule in Lagos, which result none of us will know. Those whose son was killed will not sit by idly and watch. It may take time, but nemesis is coming for both Tinubu and Fashola as well as their collaborators. Make no mistake!

In 2006, he "allocated" 1500 hectares of prime land in Ibeju-Lekki, worth roughly N75b to ARM, one of the "partners" in LCC as Lagos State's contribution to the financing of the toll road. ARM would then use that land as collateral for the following loans:

$80m from Stanbic IBTC
$80m from UBA
$80m from ADB
$80m from Standard Bank of South Africa

Also, while Tinubu was governor, he also gave $42m from the State's Treasury to LCC, thus making the road an entirely state funded project! LCC has not put down a kobo of their own money in this project, yet they're allowed to toll it for thirty years, vide an agreement to that effect signed with them on behalf of Lagos State by Bola Ahmed Tinubu! Pray, who is this fraud intended to benefit?

Any evidence that he doesn't own LCC

baksonlee:
djustice what happened yesterday? You promised to bring Fashola's government down.  

What's going to happen next?

Soon, the laughter will be wiped off the faces of Fashola, Tinubu and their acolytes, as a slow realisation of what they've unleashed begins to dawn on them.

Pukkah:
Come off that! So it's curses you're relying on now? So upon all your threat of fire and brimstone all they are getting is curses? Do some Nigerians ever learn? How primitive! What happened to IBB in spite of all the coffins they carried for him in 1993?

I have a couple of issues against the LCC arrangement but your approach is totally annoying and exasperating! It was in this same manner you were littering the other thread with abuse, insults and curses! And all in the 'Mighty name of Jesus'!

Obviously, your approach has not worked and all your numerous threats on the tolling have come to nought. Isn't it high time you changed?

Pukkah, I hear your disgust and I agree that my curses are disgusting. I apologise to you personally for offending your sensibilities, and I promise to change, to Fashola, Tinubu and their followers' eternal regret.

Let them just prepare for war, because that is the next step in this fight. The curses are just an expression of the inner violence I feel at being assaulted the way I was yesterday. There will be no next time, because things will begin to happen to some people, that they never dreamt of in their lives. Shebi we're in this Lagos together. Boko Haram and MEND have shown us that nobody has the monopoly of violence, not MOPOL, not the ARMY or JTF. WE CAN BE VIOLENT IF WE CHOOSE TO BE! Regrettably, that is the next step now. We've been pushed to the wall.

The way Fashola and Tinubu have handled this will lead to a response, however long it takes, that may ultimately lead to a breakout of war in Lagos. I'm not talking small scuffles here. WAR!!

Since their response to peaceful protests is this brutal and tyrannical, they should never expect such protests anymore. They've succeeded in removing the veil from the eyes of formerly gullible Lagosians, even some of their former friends. There will no longer be a protest of any kind.

I hope they're ready for what is coming.

For killing an innocent young man, simply because he protested against an extortion racket called tolls. For injuring many innocent people who came out to register their protest against these obnoxious tolls in a peaceful manner.

Their female children will be raped and abused their entire lives, for the way in which they caused their thugs and hired Policemen, led by Hakeem Odumosu, to assault other people's wives and mothers today.

Their homes will be castles of sorrow, weeping, desolation and gnashing of teeth, even in their lifetimes.

Whatever they use the money they're stealing from Lagosians for, will never do well. If they use it to educate their children, they will turn into useless vagabonds or vegetables before their very eyes.

If they use it to build houses, they will never know peace or prosperity in those homes.

If they use it to buy cars, they will have fatal accidents in them.

All these I pray for these evil bastards, in the might Name of Jesus. Can I get an Amen for this?

The following was posted in December 2010, on this thread: https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-572287.0.html

jacobs123:
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 regard 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.

Action, not mere words, stopped the tolling then, but stronger, more sustained action will be required this time. People are in this for the long haul. We're looking at around 6 weeks initial occupation of the toll plaza, and money has been raised for this effort. Join us at the Prison Gate at Admiralty Circle, opposite Bola Tinubu's Oriental Hotel, as we begin the occupation of the last bastion of slavery. Be strong, and steadfast. There was a 3 month strike against Abacha's government in this same Nigeria. It made him unpopular in the long run, and his death became a welcome solution in the end. Those the gods want to destroy, they first make mad. It is clear that Tinubu, Fashola and all their lackeys are far gone on the road of insanity. Their destruction is all that is left. We must help hurry them to that destination, as they clearly are suicidal.

This is quite nice. I wonder though, why this is not being tolled, since the drainage is FAR FAR better than that provided by Hitech and LCC in the Lekki Prison Yard, yet, they're tolling that one!!

What is good for the goose, is good for the gander!!

Gbawe:
For some of you, must it be about pulling one person down to praise another? Anyway award marks away on the net. Surerly, that is not where most Nigerians live. They live on the ground. As far as those telling lies here that fashola is doing nothing in his second term, I can only say that more States need to "do nothing" in the way Fashola is "doing nothing".

Below are my own pictures taken a few weeks ago of extensive drainage and combined and water works project being done by Julius Berger in the Bode Thomas, Eric-Moore, Iponri, Eric Moore axis. Similar work is going on throughout Lagos. Note how the new Channels are far better, more capacious and more efficient that those they replaced. Fashola will actually consolidate on his first term and some of us will be here, with evidence, to shame the lies and bad belle driven by nothing but undiluted hatred.


https://www.keepandshare.com/userpics/c/h/a/r/lesogun/2011-12/ss/593-19021270.jpg?ts=1324060292
New channels


https://www.keepandshare.com/userpics/c/h/a/r/lesogun/2011-12/ss/599-27280799.jpg?ts=1324060280
new channels

https://www.keepandshare.com/userpics/c/h/a/r/lesogun/2011-12/ss/598-55115034.jpg?ts=1324060281
new channels


https://www.keepandshare.com/userpics/c/h/a/r/lesogun/2011-12/ss/597-43268081.jpg?ts=1324060283
New channels

https://www.keepandshare.com/userpics/c/h/a/r/lesogun/2011-12/ss/591-28037594.jpg?ts=1324060289
new channels under construction.

https://www.keepandshare.com/userpics/c/h/a/r/lesogun/2011-12/ss/594-46546274.jpg?ts=1324060294
old channels.

https://www.keepandshare.com/userpics/c/h/a/r/lesogun/2011-12/ss/595-88708633.jpg?ts=1324060296
old channels

https://www.keepandshare.com/userpics/c/h/a/r/lesogun/2011-12/ss/604-95442873.jpg?ts=1324060307
The contractor, Julius Berger .

Eteks:
I once again encourage us to focus on the key issues of progress and development, based on hard facts, rather than on mud-slinging and cheap shots. I know I didn't say that the alternative route was in place since 2009 as someone has claimed recently. If that is the basis on which the claimant hopes to throw doubt on my continued insistence that the alternative route at Oniru Estate exists, then I suggest that my bro finds some stronger arguments rather than put words in my mouth. Facts speak for themselves. Another one claims that the Oniru family will close gates on the alternative route, when there are actually no gates there in the way of the alterative route. I live in the area! Let's not waste time. Doubting Thomases and Thomasinas, please take a tour down there and see for yourself. Let's stick to the facts and the truth. As another bro correctly states, relief from traffic congestion must be a big outcome of this project. I hope, however, that we will also remember our own responsibility in making this possible, such as learning to drive better on the road, not stopping or parking indiscriminately, learning the highway code, etc. People blame the roundabouts on the road but that seems like a bad workman blaming his tools. I saw a road safety DVD produced by LCC. I learnt some things that I was doing wrong when I drive in the roundabouts. We should all see it. I am happy the company is providing services like tow assistance, ambulance, customer helpline and route patrols. I don't see this anywhere else in Nigeria. This is more than a road! Anyway, I don't take seriously statements such as the claim that the only reason for the project is to rip people off. That just sounds like sour grapes.

Everything was going just swimmingly until you betrayed your profession of praise-singing with the bolded comment. You deserve more than mud to be slung at you. You actually deserve to be dipped in a pool of human-cack, like the ones at state-run primary schools all over Lagos State.

No need to exchange any further words with this one. He's one of the paid mercenaries, here to confuse issues, lie, inveigle, obfuscate and twist facts in order to make the Prison Gates appear attractive to the gullible. Just wait until Sunday. That's all I'll say for now.

.

hercules07:
So the residents even have a case in court, so Lagos state should wait until their case is finalized at the appeal court abi, they must have gone to the appeal court when they lost at the High court, yet they are not ready to wait for the determination of their own case but would rather take the law into their own hands by occupying a major road, whatever they see, they should take o.

Your language is intemperate, provocative and inciting in nature. You really shouldn't be making statements like these, because things can get out of hand rather sharply, just from affected people, who have nothing more to lose, reading this and passing it off as the position of government. Don't forget that these are descendants of the people that wore out the British and outlasted the military.

Things can turn really ugly and deadly quite suddenly, and this is the type of language that is guaranteed to make that happen. Hercules07, please stop the provocation. Much as I'm against the tolls, I love my Lagos too much to want a confrontation that could result in casualties, which will inevitably lead to a conflagaration. Stop it!

Eteks:
Here we go again. The minute that someone decides to put forward the facts about LCC, so that we can stop allowing ourselves to be misled by people spreading untruths about this project, you get people accusing you of working for LCC.  If people bothered to research the facts, which you can find on LCC's website, in various publications, and from conferences both in Nigeria and overseas where this project has been discussed extensively for years, you will see the information available in the public domain.  You can also write to LCC's email address and ask them questions.  I have found  that they respond fairly quickly. There's no need to work for LCC in order to get the facts.  So let's stay focused on the core issues of development and progress, and not be distracted by the mudslinging and abuse. Regarding the alternative route around the 1st toll gate, I again repeat that you will be able to avoid that toll gate entirely and get back onto the expressway if you use Oba Yesufu Oniru Rd and Oniru Market Road.  There are NO GATES in the way as has been claimed.  If you don't believe this then I suggest that you go there and see it for yourself.  The facts will speak for themselves. Lagos State has said it will provide alernative routes so people that don't want to pay tolls can avoid the toll gates and still return back to the expressway and use it. Until that has happened, they have said they will not allow toll to be collected at the toll gate where the alternative route is not ready. That is the reason why they are only allowing LCC to start collecting toll at the Oniru Toll gate. The alternative route around Oniru toll gate is complete.  What other alternative route do some people want beyond this since their main thing is to avoid paying toll but still use the road. Falomo Bridge Ramp is an example of why it is wrong to describe what LCC has done as just adding one lane. Let's face facts, whether you support tolling or not - LCC had done more than some people claim. It's about the truth. Let's stop lying to ourselves. Development comes at a cost.

Fortunately, I have not yet accused you of working for LCC. Are you? Elefo o, "Ooo oo! Efo temi kii se tete o!". Why not wait until you're accused before you issue a rebuttal? Sounds to me like you're protesting on their behalf just a little too much!

Now, how do you situate your position alongside Clause 20 of the Concession Agreement, as stated below:


Clause 20.2.1 of the Agreement:

20.2 Entitlement to Collect Tolls

20.2.1 The Concessionaire shall be entitled to charge and collect Tolls from users of each section of:

(a) Phase 1, on the Phase 1 Toll Dates;

(b) Phase 2, on the Phase 2 Toll Dates; and

(c) the Southern Bypass, on the Southern Bypass Toll Dates.

Without prejudice to the foregoing, the Concessionaire shall be entitled to collect Tolls from users of any junction with or entry onto or egress from the Toll Road whether or not such junction or point of entry or egress from the Toll Road was created by the Concessionaire, at any time after the Concessionaire becomes aware of the same, and in all cases, the Concessionaire shall be responsible for all expenses related to the collection of Tolls.


Can you still safely say that these alternatives will never be tolled in the life of this concession? There is nothing in the agreement requiring LCC or the government for that matter to provide alternative routes as a pre-condition to tolling!!!

johnie:
I don't understand why that waiver should be included among those for the road.

Beats me hollow!

I was always opposed to the idea of concessioning the road, when government revenue was at an all time high, and it can be built to even better quality at lest cost by government, just from our taxes. I had no idea that it was such a dirty racket.

This concession agreement is a disgrace to Nigeria as a country, just on the strength of these obnoxious waivers. Slavery on all sorts of levels!!!

Eteks:
It's worrisome how much misinformation is deliberately put out there about this road. It's also worrisome that some people resort to abuse and intimidation when doing so, which is frankly-speaking no way to get your point across. Let's examine the facts around some of the misinformation:

(1). There is definitely an alternative route around the 1st toll gate in Lekki. For example, from VI, turn right at Oniru Intersection into Oba Yesufu Oniru Rd, drive by Four Points Hotel, City of David Church, Atlantic Beach Estate, eventually onto Oniru Market Road, and back onto the expressway. You won't have paid any toll but you will still enjoy the new expressway. I live in the area and drive the route regularly, so I know that the alternative route to bypass the toll gate does exist. The alternative route to bypass the second toll gate by Chevron is half-completed. That is why the government is not allowing LCC to start collecting tolls there yet. I've driven there to see the road myself, which you can access from Chevron Drive, and I can confirm that it does exist.

(2). Tinubu does not own LCC as is falsely claimed by people trying to tarnish the company's reputation. If you check the records at the corporate affairs commission in Abuja, you will see that there is no past or present govermor or other government official on the list of shareholders.

(3). Lekki-Epe Expressway is not the only road currently being tolled in Lagos. Tolls have been collected at the Airport Road by Murtala Muhammed International Airport for years.

(4). The work done by LCC is more thanthe addition of 2 lanes as often claimed. They have built the new dual-lane Falomo ramp bridge; they expanded Mobil Bridge from 4 to 8 lanes; they have built several pedestrian bridges; there are several new roundabouts, new traffic lights and street lights, new drainage systems, new underground service ducts, etc. LCC also provides what they call incident management services, which are complementary, such as free towing if you breakdown, ambulance services, route patrols, a free-of-charge customer helpline, etc. They say that they've helped over 7,000 distressed motorists. I'm one of those that got a free tow, which saved me about N50,000.

(5).  Lagos State never borrowed $43M from a South African bank and then gave the money to LCC to start the work, as claimed by some people.  The website of Standard Bank group, when describing how the financing of the project was structured, confirmed that Lagos State advanced a loan to LCC at financial close. A loan is not a gift and has to be paid back. That event happened in 2008, while the loan was actually for a sum of N5Bn. This loan should be viewed in context of the N43Bn of shareholders equity and other loans that LCC had already secured for the project, as we have heard about in various forum where LCC's CEO has publicly explained how the project was financed. I've attended some of those forums myself. Furthermore, since the work started in 2007, it should be clear that LCC used funds other thanthe Lagos State loan advanced to them in 2008, to start up the work.

I'll probably have a torrent of abuse rained on me by some people for saying this, however, I believe that if we look at the facts objectively, we'll see that these LCC guys have done a lot, and more. They've not only brought in a lot of money to rehabilitate and service a road which although built over 30 years ago, was in fast deteriorating and unsafe condition, but have also helped to restore confidence of investors in Lagos and Nigeria at large. Isn't this what government at both state and federal level are saying they want in order to take the country forward?  This project needs to be debated at the level of progress and development, and not be reduced to petty politics and trying to destroy a good thing. That's like cutting your own nose to spite your face!

1. That alternative route you refer to passes through the Privately Owned Oniru Estate, through gated streets, which the owners may decide to start tolling for. At any rate, the Agreement provides as follows, under Clause 20.2.1 of the Agreement:

20.2 Entitlement to Collect Tolls

20.2.1 The Concessionaire shall be entitled  to charge and collect Tolls from users of each section of:

(a) Phase 1, on the Phase 1 Toll Dates;

(b) Phase 2, on the Phase 2 Toll Dates; and

(c) the Southern Bypass, on the Southern Bypass Toll Dates.

Without prejudice to the foregoing, the Concessionaire shall be entitled to collect Tolls from users of any junction with or entry onto or egress from the Toll Road whether or not such junction or point of entry or egress from the Toll Road was created by the Concessionaire, at any time after the Concessionaire becomes aware of the same, and in all cases, the Concessionaire shall be responsible for all expenses related to the collection of Tolls.


2. We know who the shareholders of LCC are. They are all corporate organisations with more than a passing link to Bola Ahmed Tinubu. ARM is believed to have been bought out of the GTB group with funds provided by Bola Tinubu, through several fronts. Hitech is known to be a partnership between the Chaghoury's and Bola Tinubu. AIIF and Larue Ltd are shell companies, not existing prior to 2005. Who are their owners You can lie all you want. The breeze has exposed the backside of the chicken.

3. Before the direct route to the Air Force base and the Local Terminals was tolled, IT WAS COMPLETED!! IN FULL!! Lekki-Epe expressway has not been completed, and it appears that they want to collect the tolls to fund the completion of the road! There is also a longer, but well finished alternative route to go to the Local Airport, for those who don't want to pay tolls. There is no basis for comparison!

4. Before nko? Do they expect to build a road without drainage or without means of crossing it for pedestrians? What exactly are you on about? Where do you build inner-city roads without making it possible for pedestrians to cross it? How is that "additional works"?

5. Agreed. What they did was dip their grubby fingers in our treasury and take $42m from it to dash to their own company, LCC. I know they're calling it a loan now, but why is it not possible to tell us at what rate they're borrowing it and for how long? Why did they not tell us until they were exposed? Why hide?

If there is any petty politics, it would appear that it's from you. We are discussing how this road is affecting Lagosians lives, and it is quite bad.