₦airaland Forum

Talking about the bus stops, I observed that there are no shelters for commuters waiting buses at the bus stops.

This became obvious to me when there was a heavy downpour on Monday night. The commuters at the bus stops were a pitiable sight.

[size=14pt]LCC, I believe you have the shelters in your design. Please provide them quick![/size]

Final set of pictures (just after the Oniru Estate entrance)

Pic 1: The white building on the right is Addax Petroleum's office. The grey building on the left is Mobil Oil's Office. On the right, just before Addax is a bus stop as indicated by the blue sign. Behind the bus stop is the lagoon.

Pic 2-4: After Addax Office. I am not quite sure what the high rise building on the  right is. There are traffic lights right at its entrance. 1004 Estate is in the back ground, on the left.

P_NL,

They are yet to announce the toll fees. I expect them announce it this week or the next barring any last minute changes to the planned commencement in August.

I heard on Rhythm 93.7 FM this morning that the residents are gearing up to physically protest the commencement of tolling. They say they are ready for the police and other security agents that might be drafted to stop them.

The spokesperson Adewale Sanni is wondering why the governor is not saying anything about the issue. He said "if the governor's hands are tied he should speak up so that people will know what to do." 

Meanwhile, working is going on steadily at the third round about. At the pace they are going, I expect major improvements in the traffic pattern soon.

It is either they have learnt some valuable lessons from the experience at the first round about or they are just rushing the job.

I hope they are not just rushing the job and doing it below standard. I observed that they have started constrcucting the median from second round about towards the third but I do not see the drainage like we have at the completed sections of the road.

I hope I am wrong about them rushing the job.

Just after the pedestrian bridge.

Observe the traffic lights. I think there might be an opening here to allow traffic from Oniru Estate to join those going to Ozumba Mbadiwe (V/I).

I worried about the number of traffic lights from this junction onwards. There about 4 or 5 from this point to Falomo Bridge.

One of the supports for the pedestrian bridge under construction at the entrance to Oniru Estate.

The Go-Cart place. One poster asked for the picture of this place sometime back. Here it is for you!

Pic 1-2: Approaching the toll plaza

Pic 3-4:After the toll plaza. Heading towards V/I

Pic 1-2 : Just before the first round about

Pic 3-4: Just after the round about. Approaching the toll plaza

Pic 1:
Approaching the end of the "oval- about". Notice the brown truck at the bottom right corner turning left. It's probably going into Lekki Phase 1 (Ocean Side). From that route you can get into Oniru Estate and then V/I, thereby avoiding the toll gate. The vehicle could also be turning back heading towards Ajah/Epe.

Pic 2: At the end of the Amazon Oil "oval-about". Observe the white truck at the left corner of the picture. This is one of the vehicles deployed by LCC to assist owners of broken down vehicles. I got assistance from them one night last year when my car broke down just before this point. They assist you to secure you and your car,(from thieves), provide road diversion signs to warn on-coming vehicles, etc. Their services are free (maybe for now).

Pic 3-4: Just after the "oval about". Heading towards first round about. Observe the street lights.

At Amazon Oil Junction. This junction has been converted into an "oval-about". I think it also serves as a canal for rain water to flow from the road.

A right turn here leads into Lekki Phase 1 Estate.

Pic 1: At Ikate Elegushi, just before the second round about

Pic 2-4: After the second round about, approaching Amazon Oil Junction.

Amazon Oil is the tall cream colored building in picture 4 with glass and red window panels.

Here's a trip from third (Jakande/Mobil Petrol Station) round about to Ozumba Mbadiwe (Victoria Island) between 6.30 and 7.00 a.m., about two weeks ago.

Pic 1: Just after the thirdround about, heading towards Ilasan Bus Stop

Pic 2: At Ilasan. Heavy machinery are working on pedestrian bridge at the bus stop.

Pic 3: Just after Ilasan Bus Stop, heading towards second round about (Ikate Elegushi)

LCC has started work on the expansion of the third round about. This round about, I believe, is a major source of traffic jam both in the morning and in the evening. The roundabout is now being reconstructed as I observed this morning that they have started pulling it apart.

I am anxious to see what it would look like when they finish. It is easily the busiest round about on the road.

At that round about alone, there are two filling stations (Mobil and SPG), two eateries (Mr. Biggs & Chicken Republic), bus stops on both sides of the road, a road leading to Lekki (Maiyegun) Beach, a plank market, a high tension power line mast (which I would like to see how they circumvent because I don't think they can relocate it), fruit sellers and others.

I eagerly look forward to the completion of the work on that round about. By the time that is done, story go change like they say.

What do you think?

I heard on Cool 96.9 FM this morning that the Lagos State House of Assembly is to meet with LCC on the planned commencement of tolling.

Good as that may sound, I think they've tactically detached themselves by saying that if LCC has already notified the executive about the commencement of the tolling, there is noting they (legislature) can do about it.

johnie:
Now that the Lagos Concession Company is expanding the Lekki-Epe expressway, could we return to days when you can get back to VGC in less than 10 minutes?

In the long run however, we may return to a point (when the road expansion is completed) where we can get to VGC and other estates in its vicinity in 10 or 20 minutes.

Now if that happens, the benefit of proximity to the mainland or to the island that Lekki Phase I presently has over these further estates may then wane. Estates like VGC, Crown estate, Northern Foreshore, Cooperative Villa, Ocean Bay and other estates that are farther down, but generally have a good ambience, better infrastructure and arguably better security than Lekki Phase I may gain at its expense. The investors or possible future buyers are like in time past, likely to view the additional travel time as immaterial and rather go farther to an excellent environment than stay closer to V.I

I expect this in the short to medium term. Work completed on the first round about suggests this.

Two things I believe compounded the traffic situation on the road are the disruptions in the progress of the work after diversions had been created (which only LCC/LASG can explain) and the increasing number of people moving into the axis.

johnie:
One other question that should be on our minds is to recall that there was a reason why the 10 minutes drive to VGC disappeared. What happened was that as more estates came up, more businesses also appeared on the scene. Obviously, more cars started plying the road and this growth has not stopped. The point is that if the expressway is expanded and more estates and businesses are attracted to the area, the expansion may create the problem it was to solve. The more things change, the more they stay the same!

This is especially true for the stretch after second round about as the population density (current and potential) after the round about is high.

I hope LCC have taken this into consideration in designing the expansion!

An Expressway’s many hurdles (and many opportunities)

In the year 2000, a 675sqm plot of land in Victoria Garden City, Lekki (VGC) sold for about N1.3M. In three short years by 2003, the price had jumped to N12M. In those days, one of the main factors driving such a price rise was that Victoria Garden City and adjudged to be the best estate in Nigeria with the best infrastructure.

Estates like Crown Estate, NICON Town, Northern Foreshore etc which today can boast of comparative (if not better) infrastructure were not even on the drawing board. Lekki Phase1 which was better placed in terms of proximity to Victoria Island probably had less than 10% of its roads tarred; no electricity or portable water and its price remained static or grew moderately. It also helped of course that the traffic time from Mobil to VGC then used to be between 10 to 15 minutes However over the years as the price of VGC properties increased, the time to get there also increased. Right now, if you get to VGC from Mobil headquarters within 30 minutes on a given day, it is considered good timing because during rush hour, the traffic time can be as much as two hours for the same journey.

Now that the Lagos Concession Company is expanding the Lekki-Epe expressway, could we return to days when you can get back to VGC in less than 10 minutes? What impact would such presently unimaginable traffic times have on the real estate prices in VGC and the other estates in the axis? The announcement that the first tolls on the Lekki-Epe expressway will be collected in the first week of August 2010 has focused the mind again on the link between transportation and real estate values. It will be very interesting to see how the expansion of the expressway (and of course the attendant tolling which will be levied to finance it) will pan out.


Toll costs not known yet, but not likely to dampen enthusiasm for high end Lekki EstatesThere are short term and long term effects that the road expansion can have on property values, asides from the economic recession that is presently facing the real estate market. One of the more immediate effects is that fencing off the road means that the plots that are directly on the expressway have lost their “commercial value.” There used to be a premium placed on such strategically located properties because with the amount of traffic on the expressway, any business looking for visibility will want to have a presence directly on the expressway, The first loser may be the premium placed on properties that face the expressway.


In the short term, because the expressway has been expanded up to the second roundabout, it means that traffic from the 2nd round about to all the various estates down the line is still very chaotic and time consuming. However, Lekki Phase I which is between the first and second roundabouts is now enjoying the benefit of smooth driving and that means that Lekki Phase I will be preferred to the other estates in the axis. So if you are looking for property value moving at all in Lekki axis in the short term, you can expect that Lekki Phase I will be the one enjoying such movements more so with the bridge being built to link the estate to Ikoyi. While other estate prices may be static or even drop in value (because residents or proposed residents and investors can be discouraged by traffic) Lekki Phase I will be enjoying all the benefits.

In the long run however, we may return to a point (when the road expansion is completed) where we can get to VGC and other estates in its vicinity in 10 or 20 minutes. Now if that happens, the benefit of proximity to the mainland or to the island that Lekki Phase I presently has over these further estates may then wane. Estates like VGC, Crown estate, Northern Foreshore, Cooperative Villa, Ocean Bay and other estates that are farther down, but generally have a good ambience, better infrastructure and arguably better security than Lekki Phase I may gain at its expense. The investors or possible future buyers are like in time past, likely to view the additional travel time as immaterial and rather go farther to an excellent environment than stay closer to V.I

On the issue of collection and prices of tolls, different figures are being bandied around from N100 to N500 per trip. In our estimation for the high end estates, the tolls should not be a factor. We are looking at properties in the region of N50 to N60 million and residents who routinely spend in excess of N50,000 every month to run and maintain their generator for example may not consider the costs material especially when weighed against travel time, comfort and security being promised by the LCC. However the attractiveness of low cost estates, like the Jakandes, Abraham Adesanyas and would reduce as we expect that people who favour this type of estates are likely to be more price conscious.

One other question that should be on our minds is to recall that there was a reason why the 10 minutes drive to VGC disappeared. What happened was that as more estates came up, more businesses also appeared on the scene. Obviously, more cars started plying the road and this growth has not stopped. The point is that if the expressway is expanded and more estates and businesses are attracted to the area, the expansion may create the problem it was to solve. The more things change, the more they stay the same!



The Toll Plazas
The Lekki Toll Road has been designed to operate 3 Toll Plazas located along the
49.4km stretch of road that falls within LCC’s concession area:
.
Admiralty Circle Plaza:
Located at Km 3 of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, in the
vicinity of the Palms Shopping Mall. The choice of name is a tribute to the proximity
of the Five Cowrie Creek to the Toll Plaza, and the importance of preserving our
waterways.

Conservation Plaza:
Located at Km 13, in the vicinity of Chevron Nigeria Limited
HQ. The choice of name is a tribute to the proximity of the National Conservation
Foundation to the Toll Plaza, and LCC’s identification with the importance of
protecting our environment and our ecosystem.

Campus Plaza:
Located at Km 23, in the vicinity of the Pan African University.
The choice of name is a tribute to the proximity of the University campus to the Toll
Plaza, and LCC’s identification with the importance of education to society.

Source: http://www.castlesweekly.com/ShowArticle.aspx?ID=1034

The other direction from where the pictures above were taken:

Houses with red roof on the left (top of picture) are in Buena Vista Estate.

Street lights and fence on the right are of Ocean Bay Estate.

Observe white pegs on the sides of the road.

I can confirm that work is going on on the road.

Buena Vista Estate - ExpressWay Road (Oluwanisola Junction) update:

This is as far as I could go on the other end of the road leading from Buena Vista Estate.

I guess the construction work for the bridge goes from here to the other end in the picture I posted earlier leading to Oluwanisola Estate.

^^^^

Thanks GAR3TH!

^^^^
I don't think that road is being constructed by Cityscape. If you look at the pictures I posted on July 5, you would notice that one of the vehicles has an inscription of the Lagos State government  (improvement and rehabilitation of system channel) on it.

It is possible to link that road from Alpha Beach Road by passing in front of Ocean Bay Estate or from Lafiaji.

See pictures of the road below

Meanwhile, I am happy to inform the house that work has begun on the Alpha Beach Road. I hope to get details soon.

Could this be one of the alternative routes?

I am guessing it is because Alpha Beach Road comes just before the second plaza and the road opposite Oluwanisola Estate which is under construction comes just after the plaza!

I hope I'm right.

johnie:
Expressing similar sentiments, the chairman of Eti-Osa Indigene Forum, Alhaji Abideen Lawal insisted that the plaza would be demanding too much from people in the area, even as he feared it could lead to restiveness. He opined that since the state government had designed an alternative road, LCC should expedite action on it, rather than fencing them in.

His words: “We don’t understand the rationale behind building tollgates without the provision of alternative access roads.  

Reacting to the issue, the Managing Director of Lekki Concession Company Limited, Mr. Opuiyo Oforiokuma explained that fencing of some areas along the expressway was necessitated by safety considerations. He maintained that it is not the duty of LCC to provide alternative routes for the axis, rather, that of the Lagos State government.  

“We have consistently explained that LCC has no business providing access routes. There are alternative routes that can take people through the toll plaza.

Questions?

1. Has the Lagos State government designed an alternative road?
2. Whose responsibility is it to build that road? LASG or LCC?
3. Where are the alternative routes that the LCC MD is talking about between Amazon Oil junction and where the last toll plaza will be built?
4. Isn't it the same LCC that says that Phase two of the project consists of "building the remaining 14 km of the coastal road, and is contingent on the Lagos State Government‘s completion of the civil works on the new coastal defences (to check erosion) that will require additional financial resources. ?"
5. Who's not telling us the full story? The residents? LCC or LASG?

johnie:
He told Daily Sun that the affected communities have staged protests to the Lagos State House of Assembly and the government house, but their fears and demands were not addressed. He further alleged that LCC reneged on its promise that it won’t infringe on rights of way of properties in the area.
“We have protested, basically against the likely negative effects of tolling and fencing off the expressway. We believe the government conceded too much to the company in the concession agreement, to our disadvantage and we think this should be redressed.

You would recall that on May 15 2010, I posted the following report on this thread:


Shortly after the media briefing, some residents of Eti-Osa Community stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly premises to protest the proposed tolling and fencing project on Lekki-Epe Expressway.

The residents who claimed to have visited Governor Babatunde Fashola in his office appealed to the lawmakers to urgently review the concession agreement between the state government and LCC on the expansion of the road.

Speaking on behalf of the residents, Adewale Sanni explained that since the commencement of the road project, many concerned civil society organisations have raised their voices formally and informally on the likely negative effects of tolling and fencing of the road on human development.

Sanni alleged that there was no adequate consultation with the people to know their demands and priorities before the concession agreement was finalised. He insisted that the expressway should not be tolled “as the state government generates enough resources from infrastructural development charges/levies, income taxes and other property taxes from the area to sustain the estimated N50 billion project”, he added.

He complained that collection of toll on the road will further pauperize the people of Eti-Osa whose lands have been acquired by successive administration of the state government as well as other groups of residents who must use the road daily as part of socio-economic interactions.

“The government has no doubt conceded too much to LCC in the agreement to our utmost disadvantage and we think this should be redressed. The fencing of the road as currently being undertaken is another sign of insensitivity on the part of government and the concessionaire.

“The fencing of the road is meant to maximize the concessionaire’s profit without any care for the socio-cultural or economic implications it may have on our people. It is meant to tactically force people into the use of toll road by blocking off entry or exit routes to any adjoining roads,” Sanni said. Responding, Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji assured the people that the lawmakers will look into their requests. He urged them not to take laws into their hands by vandalizing works that has been done by the contractor.

The House later set up a five-man committee to investigate the matter and report back on Tuesday, May 11. Members of the Committee are  Saka Fafunmi, Kabir Lawal, Babajide Akinloye, Mudashiru Obasa and Razaq

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/05/04/storm-over-tolling-of-lagos-epe-expressway/


Nothing has been heard about the report of the committee of the State House of Assembly since May 11 when they were supposed to submit their report. Who are they representing in the House?

According to Sanni in the tv report I saw yesterday, a similar protest was made to the House last year and nothing came out of it.

I will attempt to take on some of the issues raised in this exchange between the indigenes/residents  and LCC:

johnie:
Stakeholders in the affected communities are alleging that the construction company has refused to dialogue with them since the expansion project started.
According to the President of Eti-Osa Heritage Group, Mr. Sanni Adewale, a lawyer, the collection of toll and fencing would further pauperize the people of Eti-Osa, as well as those living and conducting businesses in the axis.


“We are opposed to tolls and we won’t allow them to fence us in. The state government generates enough resources from infrastructural development charges, levies and taxes from the area to sustain the project. This, to us is an extreme form of multiple taxation. The people of these communities have not enjoyed any dividend of democracy. We don’t have any health centre, market or even public cemetery,” he lamented.

Adewale maintained that “it is pointless talking about how much would be charged as tolls, “because we shall not pay to enter our land.
“They failed to speak to any member of the community on what they are doing or how they would be affected. They never raised the issue of the tollgates with us until we learnt that we have to pay to go into our homes. The fencing of the road is meant to maximize the concessionaire’s profit without consideration for the socio-cultural or economic implications on us. I believe the fence is meant to tactically force people into using the toll gate,” Adewale insisted.


Expressing similar sentiments, the chairman of Eti-Osa Indigene Forum, Alhaji Abideen Lawal insisted that the plaza would be demanding too much from people in the area, even as he feared it could lead to restiveness.

His words: [b]“We don’t understand the rationale behind building tollgates without the provision of alternative access roads. We also learnt that a towing van and a car being towed would pay tolls respectively. Tolls will have negative impact on local residents, some of whom are currently struggling with everyday life. It would have been better if they decide to toll the only lane added to the road, or better still, make it an option by constructing a bypass. Governor Fashola should not allow this little project to destroy the good work his administration has done.”

The Baba Oja of Ajah, Alhaji Rasaki Odunlami while speaking with Daily Sun regretted that dividend of democracy, which the Lekki-Epe Expressway project is meant to deliver, has become a distress. He insisted that traders can’t cope when forced to pay tolls in three places, adding that it would negatively affect prices of foodstuffs in the area.

“Presently, buses charge N200 from Ajah to CMS or Obalende. With three tollgates, they will charge nothing less than N500. How would school children, market women and civil servants survive in such situation?[/b]

First, it is unfortunate that quite a number of people who are not familiar with the area assume that only rich people live in the area. I have often heard people say that those who live in Lekki are rich people and so can afford the toll. The moment you tell someone you are living in Lekki, the usual assumption is that you are either rich or are trying to play 'big boy/girl.'

There are quite a number of rural settlements in the Lekki area who still depend on fishing, petty trading and the sorts to eke out a living. There are also drivers and other domestic staff living in the area.

The economic impact of tolling on these people ought to be given serious consideration as increased transport costs will have a domino effect on other costs.

The issue of lack of social amenities in the area is also a big issue. Like one of those who spoke in the report said, there are no secondary schools, no general hospitals, no water and the roads are generally bad. I must say though that some new roads are being done. Channelisation is also being carried out.

Be that as it may, the government generates a lot of revenue from residents of the area particularly those living in the "high brow" areas" yet the impact is not being felt. The state of infrastructure in Lekki Phase 1  Estate (which is government owned) for instance is below par when compared to other Estates in the same area.

This road which is a major artery and the most visible sign of government presence is now to be commercialised.

Mr Fire:
Photos speak more than words

stormm:
@ poster

This is Lekki not Ajahand pls ref your source - SR.

Mr Storm and Mr Fire,

Can both of your confirm where exactly this is?

Fire says Ajah

Storm says Lekki

Whhich is which?

How are we even sure it is any of the two locations?

Source Please!

I accidentally ran into a 30-minutes documentary sponsored by the Eti-Osa Heritage Forum on SilverBird Television yesterday.

Essentially it was to protest the planned tolling and fencing of the road.

I think the gist of the documentary (which I am stil trying to get from the internet) is also contained in this newspaper report.:

Road of contention
, Lekki-Epe road pitch 50 communities against Lagos govt
By TESSY IGOMU
Wednesday, July 7, 2010




Development generally is meant to make life easy and possibly empower the citizenry economically. But development, in the like of the Lekki-Epe Expressway expansion and toll plaza has turned a sour grape, with its tinge of controversies threatening to disrupt the peace and serenity pervading the area.

The Lagos State government, had in April 2006, through the Public Private Partnership (PPP), engaged the Lekki Concession Company (LCC), to upgrade and expand the 49.5 kilometre road in a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. The contract stipulates that LCC will operate and maintain the road for 30 years before transferring it to the state government.

But rather than bring joy, the expansion has pitched about 50 communities, bordering the stretch of the expressway in the Eti-Osa local government area, against the state government and LCC.

Members of the community are kicking against the construction of three tollgates, meant to help the company recoup its investment for 30 years at Maroko, Sangotedo and Epe. They are also up in arms against an alleged attempt to fence them in.

Members of the community are angry that two out of the three proposed tollgates would be located within Eti-Osa, claiming that it would subject them to unfair financial burden.

[b]Stakeholders in the affected communities are alleging that the construction company has refused to dialogue with them since the expansion project started.
According to the President of Eti-Osa Heritage Group, Mr. Sanni Adewale, a lawyer, the collection of toll and fencing would further pauperize the people of Eti-Osa, as well as those living and conducting businesses in the axis.

The construction of the Lekki-Epe express road, he explained, was initiated by the Lateef Jakande administration and completed by Mudashiru Lawal and Mike Akhigbe administration in 1987. This, he noted, opened up the area for rapid development and also led to an unprecedented urban growth.
“They constructed this road for us because they are good leaders.

They didn’t plan for a toll gate on it. So, the state government can’t force the decision to pay tolls down our throats. Let me make it clear that anyone who intends to erect tollgates on that road in exchange for its expansion is making an economic misadventure. No doubt, we want the road, but to ask us to pay toll is impossible. Moreover, the government is supposed to provide road at no cost to the people. Visitors, business owners, workers as well as indigenes of Eti-Osa can’t afford to bear the cost of the tolls,” he stated.
[/b]
He stressed that though the project was laudable, the communities, he alleged were left in the dark and wondered why projects initiated by the government in the Lekki corridor should be geared towards making profits to the detriment of the people.

“We are opposed to tolls and we won’t allow them to fence us in. The state government generates enough resources from infrastructural development charges, levies and taxes from the area to sustain the project. This, to us is an extreme form of multiple taxation. The people of these communities have not enjoyed any dividend of democracy. We don’t have any health centre, market or even public cemetery,” he lamented.

Adewale maintained that “it is pointless talking about how much would be charged as tolls, “because we shall not pay to enter our land.
“They failed to speak to any member of the community on what they are doing or how they would be affected. They never raised the issue of the tollgates with us until we learnt that we have to pay to go into our homes. The fencing of the road is meant to maximize the concessionaire’s profit without consideration for the socio-cultural or economic implications on us. I believe the fence is meant to tactically force people into using the toll gate,” Adewale insisted.

He told Daily Sun that the affected communities have staged protests to the Lagos State House of Assembly and the government house, but their fears and demands were not addressed. He further alleged that LCC reneged on its promise that it won’t infringe on rights of way of properties in the area.
“We have protested, basically against the likely negative effects of tolling and fencing off the expressway. We believe the government conceded too much to the company in the concession agreement, to our disadvantage and we think this should be redressed.

The fencing of the road is another sign of insensitivity on the part of government and the concessionaire. When women protested during the construction of the second toll gate, fully armed policemen were deployed the next day to the site. If what they are doing is right, why then are they using armed men?” he queried. .

The lawyer also alleged that the company is planning to commence toll collection on the 49.5 kilometre road, when only two kilometres have been constructed.

“The road is bursting at the seams with vehicles because the construction work is slow. Why should they be eager to start collecting tolls on an uncompleted road? It is absurd and I believe Lagosians won’t accept it. What they are doing is inconsistent with global standard practice. To erect three toll plazas on a 49.5-kilometre road is undemocratic, collecting tolls on them for 30 years is unheard of,” he stated.
Decrying the traffic snarl being witnessed in the area, Funke, a resident of Admiralty Way, Lekki, said it takes her about three hours to get home from her office at Victoria Island.

“This is a drive that should not take more than 10 minutes. I tell you, it is terrible. If you don’t live in this area you will not understand. It is sad because the construction firm have concentrated more effort on the toll gates. They are taking too long and it is affecting us adversely,” she lamented.

Expressing similar sentiments, the chairman of Eti-Osa Indigene Forum, Alhaji Abideen Lawal insisted that the plaza would be demanding too much from people in the area, even as he feared it could lead to restiveness. He opined that since the state government had designed an alternative road, LCC should expedite action on it, rather than fencing them in.

His words: “We don’t understand the rationale behind building tollgates without the provision of alternative access roads. We also learnt that a towing van and a car being towed would pay tolls respectively. Tolls will have negative impact on local residents, some of whom are currently struggling with everyday life. It would have been better if they decide to toll the only lane added to the road, or better still, make it an option by constructing a bypass. Governor Fashola should not allow this little project to destroy the good work his administration has done.”

The Baba Oja of Ajah, Alhaji Rasaki Odunlami while speaking with Daily Sun regretted that dividend of democracy, which the Lekki-Epe Expressway project is meant to deliver, has become a distress. He insisted that traders can’t cope when forced to pay tolls in three places, adding that it would negatively affect prices of foodstuffs in the area.

“Presently, buses charge N200 from Ajah to CMS or Obalende. With three tollgates, they will charge nothing less than N500. How would school children, market women and civil servants survive in such situation? It also has security and safety implications because there would be crises if there is any emergency that requires immediate evacuation of people. The toll plazas would be choked and the only alternative escape routes would be the surrounding water,” he said.

Reacting to the issue, the Managing Director of Lekki Concession Company Limited, Mr. Opuiyo Oforiokuma explained that fencing of some areas along the expressway was necessitated by safety considerations. He maintained that it is not the duty of LCC to provide alternative routes for the axis, rather, that of the Lagos State government.

“We have consistently explained that LCC has no business providing access routes. There are alternative routes that can take people through the toll plaza. Survey has been conducted to prepare the routes. The fencing is not going to extend to all the tollgates. It is meant to cover only the first tollgate. The road and toll project is in line with international standard. Evidence would speak for itself by the time we are through,” he defended. .



Source: http://sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/citysun/2010/july/07/citysun-07-07-2010-001.htm

I am still asking where exactly is this?

Many people do not realise that Ajah is just one part of what is genreally known as Lekki.

Eti-Osa Local Government where Ajah is, is even different from Ibjeu-Lekki Local Government.

So once again, I ask, where exactly is this place in the picture?

Don't tell us the street, just the area!

Poster is yet to tell us where exactly in Lekki this happened

Where in Lekki is this?

Oga Lawyer, please transfer this thread to the politics section.

Thank you.

Lagos-Badagry Highway - Property Owners Dismantle Houses

10 September 2009

Stan Okenwa — Apparently working on the permutation that the Lagos State government meant business in expanding the Lagos-Badagry expressway to 10 lane-light rail system, property owners on the stretch especially from Maza-Maza to Seme border have started dismantling and losing off useful parts of their houses.
Some of the owners' of property within the Right of Way (RoW) who spoke to our correspondent on grounds of anonymity said hence the state government has demonstrated genuine interest in carrying out the project, there is no need to wait for the bulldozers to come and level everything including what could be recovered early enough by them.

But in a separate interview, son of a property owner at Maza-maza who introduced himself as Udoka confided in Daily Champion that his father joined others to dismantle his house to rescue doors, zinc, aluminum frames and glasses, kitchen and sanitary wares, tiles and other materials so as to limit the magnitude of loss hence compensation may not be paid. Udoka disclosed further that he is not sure if his father has all relevant documents and approval that will ensure payment of compensation as the state government has no time for victims without genuine documents and building approval papers.
He said "the only material remaining in their house now and other affected structures is standing bricks, decking and housing parts that cannot be useful when removed from a house".

In a separate interview with some landowners popularly called Omonile around Agboju axis on the stretch, they explained that not up to 10 percent of buildings along the Badagry expressway were built with genuine documents. They explained that the state government had earlier acquired lands along the road during the late 1970s when former governor Lateef Jakande planned to redevelop the over 65 kilometres highway to a metro-system but was scuffled by intrigues of the then apex government who played politics with the project's approval and funding.

According to landowners, "when the project apparently failed, subsequent governments in the state became silent on giving building approvals but developers misinterpreted the situation and started erecting structures along the highway without recourse to getting genuine papers".

Indications show that the dismantling spree that started from Maza-maza since the resumption of massive demolition by the government from Eric Moore, the beginning of the new road to Mile-2 is gradually spreading down to Agbara as at press time.

According to available construction specifications, the highway is segmented into three lots; Lot one whose contract have been awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc., runs from Eric Moore to Mile-2; Lot two from Mile-2 to Agbara and; Lot three from Agbara to border end.

It would be recalled that the high risk of jumping into property development in Lagos State without relevant documents and approval took its toll on thousands of property owners along the Lot-1 of the highway.

Among hundreds of demolished houses from Eric Moore to Mile-2 which fall within the Right of Way (RoW), only 112 properties owners approached the government for compensation.

But upon the 112 that can up for claims, only 48 victims, according to the government officials came with "all genuine and relevant documents and approvals were confirmed for payment".

Delivering his welcome address during the payment of compensation to victims whit genuine papers few weeks ago, Director of Lands Bureau Services, Mrs. Nike Animasaun said that the value of the properties were calculated based on the current rate of properties as approved by the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) and debunked claims of arbitrarily valuation of any form.

She explained that out of the 112 properties that were affected, only 48 victims have come up with their genuine evidence of ownership, adding the public presentation of cheques is to prove the sincerity of the state government in the road redevelopment deal.

Animasaun said that the payment of compensation to people who are displaced from their properties for public use was an obligation of government as enshrined in the Land Use Act, saying that the state government was living up to that obligation by undertaking to compensate all who were affected by the demolition.

In an exclusive interview, she explained that the presentation of cheques were smooth because of the state's sincerity policy and burning determination to upgrade amenities in the state.

Presenting the cheques, Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Rotimi Oyekan thanked the beneficiaries for their understanding, saying that the expansion of the road was part of state government's efforts to open up the area for unprecedented economic opportunities.

Oyekan urged them to view the loss of their properties as a sacrifice they have to make for the future of their children and for the country in general, adding that the present administration was poised to engage the people optimally for the development of the state.

'The benefit is not just the sacrifice, but also the opportunity that the new road will open up and the extent to which that will enhance our economy. That is the burden of leadership; the sacrifice that we have to make for the future of our children, It is not a one-off thing, it is continuous. We intend to ensure that those who are
making sacrifices are adequately compensated,' the commissioner said.

He also enjoined all whose property was affected and who have not yet done so to come up to the agency with whatever means or evidence of ownership, assuring that their claims would be well reviewed and that they will be compensated by the government.

Some of the beneficiaries whose claims have been verified include Paache Steel Ltd, Chief V.O Aro, Engr. Ambrose Agboro, Alhaji Makanjuola, Doyin Group Of Companies, Vincent Whelu Martins Onyenorah, General Marble and Granite Co. Ltd, Visa International Ltd, Rotunda Hospital and Alhaji Memud Ahmad.
One of the recipients, Mr. Rasaq Apalara of Paache Steel Ltd thanked the government for the ensuring the compensation "within a short time," and expressed the belief that the road will be completed quickly and for the benefit of all Nigerians. About N2 billion have so far been paid out by the state government for compensation just as the construction firm has been mobilized to the tune of over N10 billion.

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/200909300485.html