Two years after, Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge still at 25% completion stage
Tuesday, 27 July 2010 01:08 Enam Obiosio & Joshua Bassey

The slow pace of work on the new Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge is generating ripples among government circles and road users More than two years after the contract for its construction was awarded with much hope of relief to residents of the highbrow Ikoyi and Lekki housing scheme, the Admiralty-Alexander (Lekki-Ikoyi) Link Bridge in Lagos State remains at below 25 percent completion stage.

The bridge was due to be completed in 2011, but judging from the slow pace of work, there is no assurance that this will be the case. BusinessDay exclusively gathered that the slow pace of work is as a result of project funding difficulties. This may not be unconnected with the decision of the Lagos House of Assembly to slash the state’s budget for this fiscal year by N40 billion, before passing the bill early this year.

However, efforts by the state executive to get the legislature to re-approve additional funds to give a push to various ongoing projects have so far been unsuccessful, as the legislators in

May this year, turned down the executive’s request for a 74.777 billion approval. A source at the House of Assembly told BusinessDay on Wednesday that the legislators could not approve the proposal because the executive could not convince the House on how it intends to raise the money and how it planned to use it.

Specifically, the speaker of the House of Assembly is afraid the executive could incur more debt, as it appears government lacks the financial wherewithal to offset its loans. “The state government is borrowing too much. Currently, it has a debt profile of about N100 billion. I do not think we can encourage this administration to move faster than that, simply because we do not have commensurate income to offset the borrowing,” Ikuforiji said.

Designed to be executed in three phases, the contractor handling the project, Julius Berger plc, is still battling with phase one which is basically the piling of the pillars on which the bridge will rest.

Special adviser to the Lagos State governor on works and infrastructure, Ganiyu Johnson, who would not give a true picture of what has been responsible for the slow pace of work on the project, put the level of completion at 25 percent. But he ruled out the possibility of abandoning the project which is meant to serve residents of the highbrow Ikoyi and Lekki phase one scheme. He explained that the rationale behind the bridge project is to decongest the Epe-Lekki corridor.

“It is designed for the decongestion of the Lekki-Epe road and its environs, and it is also for the promotion of real estate development,” Johnson said. The bridge project, awarded in March 2009 by the Lagos State government, is conceived and partly designed as an alternative route within the area to shorten travel time between Ikoyi and Lekki, as against what currently obtains where motorists, on a bad day, spend hours before reaching their destinations.

The 1358-metre long bridge, on completion, is expected to bridge the gap between the two high-brow Lagos areas - occupied largely by the rich. It is being constructed across the lagoon flowing towards Osborne in Ikoyi and Lekki Scheme1 Housing Estate. The first phase of the project, according to the contract terms, meant to run between March and December 2009, and involving mappings, designing and soil tests, has been completed. Apart from the concrete pillars upon which the bridge will rest, under the second phase, which is currently ongoing and scheduled to run from January to December 2010, the contractor is expected to give the 8.0mx2 wide carriageway bridge a shape.

The bridge is also designed to have a maximum of 3.5 percent vertical alignment and minimum radius of 350 metres horizontal alignment with 90 metres pylon height from water level. Additional facilities to be added on full completion are 2.3mx2 walkway, streetlights and cable ducts. When BusinessDay visited the site this week, work was in progress, as concrete pillars upon which the bridge would rest had almost gone half-way across the lagoon from the Lekki end. Special adviser to the Lagos State government on works and infrastructure, Ganiyu Johnson, appraising the project, said equipment and materials necessary to complete it within the scheduled time have been fully mobilised by the contractor, and that government does not foresee any setback on the project.

Johnson, however, believes that beyond addressing the need of the residents, the project is also going to open a window of job opportunities to commercial bus drivers who will commute Lagosians visiting these high-brow settlements.

“It will enable the residents of Ikoyi, Lekki and the entire Lagos Island to reach their destinations much faster, and this is what governance is all about,” he states.

With this project, people are already beginning to ask about the fate of other projects. Oba Ugbekpe, a resident of Ikorodu, is asking when respite will come the way of the people of Ikorodu. “Though the project is slow, and the new bridge, no doubt, holds hope and relief for Ikoyi and Lekki residents; when are we going to have something like this in Ikorodu?”, he asks.

Oye Akintoye, a resident of Ikoyi area, holds a different opinion, saying that the bridge is a good idea, but Ikoyi residents should be prepared for the deluge of traffic through their areas, as many people will use the bridge. “This will make Ikoyi much less serene and secure,” he cautions.

Source: http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13090:two-years-after-lekki-ikoyi-bridge-still-at-25-completion-stage&catid=117:news&Itemid=349

johnie:

Two years after, Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge still at 25% completion stage
Designed to be executed in three phases, the contractor handling the project, Julius Berger plc, is still battling with phase one which is basically the piling of the pillars on which the bridge will rest.
The 1358-metre long bridge, on completion, is expected to bridge the gap between the two high-brow Lagos areas - occupied largely by the rich. It is being constructed across the lagoon flowing towards Osborne in Ikoyi and Lekki Scheme1 Housing Estate. The first phase of the project, according to the contract terms, meant to run between March and December 2009, and involving mappings, designing and soil tests, has been completed.Apart from the concrete pillars upon which the bridge will rest, under the second phase, which is currently ongoing and scheduled to run from January to December 2010, the contractor is expected to give the 8.0mx2 wide carriageway bridge a shape.

Like Paddy noted where I sourced this article, the title is misleading.

In addition, the reporter contradicts himself by saying that the contractor is still battling with phase one while at the same time saying that phase one has been completed.

The same article says that phase two which is currently ongoing is scheduled to be completed by December 2010. Yet he says the progress of work is slow!

Mr. Reporter, what’s your real objective?

Fashola Seeks Peace Between Stakeholders and Concessionaire Of Lekki-Epe Expressway.

July 26, 2010

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has brokered peace between stakeholders of Ibeju-Lekki and the Concessionaire of the Lekki-Epe Expressway over issues arising from the landmark project.

The peace meeting resulted in the setting up of a Committee of all the stakeholders comprising traditional rulers, elders of Eti-Osa, Iru and Ibeju-Lekki as well as the concessionaire – Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to work towards the amicable resolution of all the issues at stake.

Giving an insight into the immense benefits of the Lekki-Epe Expressway project after listening to representations made by the stakeholders, Governor Fashola who spoke at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Alausa venue of the meeting on the 22nd of July, explained that the tolling of the road is in order to enable the concessionaire recoup the investment it made adding that although it may not be easy initially, the long-term benefits to the community far out-weigh the challenges.

Citing an example with Boston in the United States of America, Governor Fashola said although it is a novel idea in Nigeria, tolling has been employed across the globe to execute multi-million dollar projects with far-reaching socio-economic gains adding that the Boston Underground Road which initially raised agitations and resistance from the people has today become a place to behold.

“Change does not come so easily, but the gains outweigh the pains”, the Governor said adding that the road will open up access to the on-going Lekki Free Trade Zone, the Lekki Seaport including the refinery which the Federal Government plans to site in the area.

“I implore us, we are not building only road; our agreement is more than just building a road. It is not for the development of Eti-Osa alone but the entire Lagos State”, the Governor pleaded pointing out that the Concessionaire sought assurance from the State Government that there would be no breach of agreement.

According to Governor Fashola, even after the assurance by the State Government, the Concessionaire still did not commence work until the Government supported the agreement with a law passed by the representatives of the people in the State House of Assembly and the Federal Executive Council deliberated and passed a resolution on it.

On the gains already being recorded as a result of the road, the Governor said the road project has led to the appreciation of property value in the area adding, “The completion of the road is what the area is expecting. It is for the future development of the area”.

On the likely consequences of any breach of the agreement on the side of the State Government, Governor Fashola warned[b], “If we say we do not want the project to continue, it is not about money alone; it is about our reputation. The project is funded by international finance institutions. A breach of the contract will not be good for Lagos or Nigeria”.

He recalled the multi-billion dollar metro line project proposed for Lagos by former Governor Lateef Jakande pointing out that when another government truncated the contract even after the design had been completed; the State Government not only lost the project, it also lost money because the contractor went to court and sued the Government for breach of contract.

“Stopping the Concessioning agreement of the Lekki-Epe Expressway now will obviously affect other concessioning agreements in Nigeria”, Governor Fashola said adding that the Federal Government has already given a guarantee on the project. [/b]

Promising that all grey areas on the issue will be resolved soon, Governor Fashola called for nominations into a committee being set up by the State Government for that purpose adding that the Committee would comprise of stakeholders, traditional rulers, and elders of Eti-Osa, Iru and Ibeju-Lekki.

Earlier, a representative of the stakeholders, Mr. Adewale Sanni, had articulated their grievances to include the erection of three toll-gates and the fencing off of some communities in the area.


Present at the well attended meeting which lasted for over two hours, were stakeholders, elders and leaders of thought, traditional rulers and representatives of Lekki-Epe Expressway concessionaire as well as State Government officials including the Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Town Planner Francisco Abosede, the Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Olalekan Ifemode.

The meeting attended by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, also had in attendance a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Jide Akinloye and the local government chairmen of the area.

Among the traditional rulers present were the Alara of Ilara, the Ojomu of Ajiranland, the Aladeshoyin of Odo-Naforija, the Onilekki of Lekki, the Onibeju of Ibeju, the Alaketu of Ketu, the Onise of Ise, the Onitedo of Itedo, the Olofin of Orugbo, representative of Oba Oniru of Iruland, representative of Abowa of Agbowa and the Omola of Odomola, Chief Razaq Falana, Chief Mudashiru Lawal, the Baale of Aromire, among many other traditional rulers and chiefs.

On the stakeholders’ side were Hon. Yahaya Adeniyi Dosunmu, Major General Paul Toun (rtd), Mr. Lawal Fatai Olalekan, among others while the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) had in attendance its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Opuiyo Oforiokuma, among other officials

Source: http://brfashola.org/2010/07/26/fashola-seeks-peace-between-stakeholders-and-concessionaire-of-lekki-epe-expressway/

johnie:

Dis_guy, what I have are:

1. a high-level master-plan for road development in Lagos.
2. a high level master plan for the Lekki Peninsula without a legend

Pic 1 shows, for the Lekki Peninsula, the proposed coastal road linking point 3 to 5.

Pic 2 is more detailed. I have indicated the coastal road which is supposed to be the alternative to the expressway. I have also indicated the first and third round-abouts as well as the proposed fourth mainland bridge.


The red line marked 1 in pic 1, I believe is the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge which is currently under construction (Pic 3 & 4)

Anyone with more detailed information, please help!

Many thanx

Govt to begin East-West coastal road project soon, says minister
Tuesday, 27 July 2010 00:00 From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt News - 

MINISTER of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, said the Federal Government is to start work on the proposed multi-billion dollars[b] East-West coastal road, which stretches some 667.38 kilometres from Calabar to Lagos[/b], before the end of his administration.

And as a mark of government’s commitment to begin the project, the minister has set up a committee to study the report of the engineering design carried out by Pearl Consultants for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Orubebe, while receiving the design, which is based on the Niger Delta regional master-plan, explained that President Goodluck Jonathan had directed that a detailed analysis of the design should be studied with a view to awarding the road contract.

The minister noted that this is the first time in the country’s history where everyone is in unison to develop the Niger Delta.
According to him, the road project is dear to the ministry; thus, it is determined to start work soon.

He explained that if the road will be the only project that the government will embark on the Niger Delta, it would be worthwhile because it would open up the remotest part of the region to the entire country.

Orubebe said the ministry would take over the job from the NDDC, which had initially awarded contract for its design.

According to him, the project of this magnitude can only be handled by a ministry and not an intervention agency like the NDDC.

Also, the Managing Director of Pearl Consultants, Mr. Mayne David-West, explained that the cardinal objective of the road is to link the major settlements and federal oil infrastructure and installations spread along the coastline; thereby opening up the Niger Delta region for meaningful development.

He explained that objective of the regional road is to serve as strong east west spine from Calabar towards Lagos, with several north-south ribs connecting growth poles, central and northern Nigeria.

Based on the design, he explained that the east west costal road would serve as the shortest route linking Lagos to the coastal areas of Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states and also connect the North and South vertical routes.
Source: http://ww2.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18103:govt-to-begin-east-west-coastal-road-project-soon-says-minister&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

I suppose this road will link up the Lekki coastal road

johnie:


MINISTER of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, said the Federal Government is to start work on the proposed multi-billion dollars East-West coastal road, which stretches some 667.38 kilometres from Calabar to Lagos, before the end of his administration.

According to him, the road project is dear to the ministry; thus, it is determined to start work soon.

Orubebe said the ministry would take over the job from the NDDC, which had initially awarded contract for its design.

According to him, the project of this magnitude can only be handled by a ministry and not an intervention agency like the NDDC.

Man proposes, God disposes.

I hope “militants” will not blow the” pipeline” this project is coming through before it becomes a reality.

^^
We can only hold our hearts and hope somehow that this project will be realised.
Just think about how East-West travel will be transformed if this can be done. Coastal activities, tourism, etc - you just can't imagine.

I had been wondering why a BRT lane was not added to the Lekki-Epe  Expressway until I came across this.

It shows a proposed mass transit rail line from Marina to the Lekki Free Trade Zone/Lekki Airport dubbed the Green Line.

The details are as follows:

Length (Km):   37Km
Estimated cost :$1.4bn
Projected no. of passengers at the peak hour: 80,000 (The highest among all the planned lines which may explain why only one lane is being added to the expressway)

With the concessioning of the express road for so many years,  I am not sure this project will take off soon.

LCC must "recoup some of its investments" before such an efficient alternative can take off.

What do you think?

johnie:

I had been wondering why a BRT lane was not added to the Lekki-Epe  Expressway until I came across this.

It shows a proposed mass transit rail line from Marina to the Lekki Free Trade Zone/Lekki Airport dubbed the Green Line.

The details are as follows:

Length (Km):   37Km
Estimated cost :$1.4bn
Projected no. of passengers at the peak hour: 80,000 (The highest among all the planned lines which may explain why only one lane is being added to the expressway)

With the concessioning of the express road for so many years,  I am not sure this project will take off soon.

LCC must "recoup some of its investments" before such an efficient alternative can take off.

What do you think?

Where will the tracks run, and where will the stops be built? If they plan to build a light rail track, it should either run off the median or a corridor should be created alongside the road. I don't really see that, especially with the drainage issues that look likely to surface when this road is completed.

meanwhile, johnie and co, have you guys seen this thread? https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-294287.0.html
What do you think?

^^^^
I think a corridor will have to be created along side the existing road which may also be a reason why only one lane is being added to the existing lanes. There is no way the tracks will run on the median unless the whole road will be re-done.

What are the drainage issues you foresee?

Thanks for the reference to the other thread. I expect it to be interesting - I only hope contributors will be objective.

^^
I noticed that, between 1st and 2nd roundabout, there is a significant body of water forming.
I am just wondering if there is some sort of canal planned to drain the expressway surroundings right down to the lagoon. I'm not a construction person though, just wondering.

If you know VI, there used to be a canal that ran from Sanusi Fafunwa, through Oyin Jolayemi all the way to Kuramo. You can still see it just before Subomi Balogun's house, at the tail end of Sanusi Fafunwa.

^^^^

They are actually constructing waste water drainage canals. What they are doing is to build them underground. Work on these canals have taken a significant portion of the time spent on this phase of project.

Examples of these canals can be found at:
1. Second round about (See pic 1 -3)
2. Amazon Energy "round about". See pic 4

Between the toll plaza and the first round about, you won't believe the network of drains that are buried underground. When construction was going on there I used to wonder if the work would ever end because as they were covering one place up, they were digging another.

It was the same thing when they were digging up the Amazon Energy junction, one kept wondering what on earth (no pun intended) they were doing until they came out with an Oval-About with the canal in the middle.

I feel that the canals will all be linked up somehow.

I believe strongly that by the time they descend on that portion you are referring to, you would wonder if its the same place. I think I need to take pictures so we can compare when they finish.

I think that once they are through with the underground canal at second round about, they would use it to drain the portions you referred to

I actually prefer having these canals underground as they are safer and more hygienic than the type you referred to at V/I. In addition these ones are quite massive and should be able to carry higher volume of water.

What I do not know is where the water drains to: Lagoon or Ocean?

Pic 1: Underground canal at second round about before it was buried some two weeks ago.
Pic 2-3 The same place now buried. What they are doing now is to level the place in readiness for asphalting.
Pic 4: Amazon Energy Junction canal

^^
Good stuff. I see what you're saying.
It would probably be Lagoon. You can't drain anything into the ocean, given the state of the Lagos shoreline. I think Lagoon might be closer.

Since it going to be a light rail, it can have its track above ground level like those pedestrian bridges

^^^^
Could you break this down for me?

Illustrations will be helpful.

Thanks.

FG examines N1trn Coastal road design
Jul 28, 2010
By Chris Ochayi

ABUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, set up a technical committee to conduct a detailed analysis of the design for the construction of N1 trillion coastal road in the Niger Delta region.

The coastal road will traverse all the states in the region, from Calabar to Lagos.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, who set up the committee in Abuja, following presentation of the design by Pearl Consultants, a firm handling the design, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to the construction of the road.

Pearl Consultants had been engaged over the years by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for the design of the road.
The high powered committee was headed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Yahaya Abdullahi, with President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Registrar of COREN, representative of Pearl Consultants, Director of Works, Ministry of Works, Director of Infrastructure in the Ministry, among others as members.

The Committee was charged with conducting a detailed analysis of the design as produced by Pearl Consultants and to make appropriate recommendations to the Ministry.

Orubebe observed that there might have been a mix up initially on whose responsibility it was to construct the Niger Delta coastal road, adding, however, that the late President Yar’Adua, in his counsel directed the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to handle the construction of the road as well as other interstate roads in the region.
He said: “Because of the lacuna, I had to invite the consultant handling the project, Registrar of COREN, President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, due to the real engineering engagement required because of the terrain of the Niger Delta.”

The Minister said the meeting was convened at the instance of the President.

Importance ofcoastal roads
Reiterating the importance of the Niger Delta coastal roads, Elder Orubebe said that when completed it would not only enhance the economic well being of the troubled region, but would also aid the amnesty programme by creating jobs for several youths of the region.

He said the youths could be gainfully engaged as unskilled and skilled labour force as a way of disengaging them from unbecoming agitations.

While expressing how valuable the project was to Mr President, Orubebe noted that with all hands on deck, the construction of the roads, no matter the challenges was an achievable venture. He said the Ministry had executed an assignment of such magnitude in the past, and as such would not be afraid to attain such lofty height with the coastal road network.

Those at the event included Minister of State, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Hon. Samuel Ode, representative of NDDC, president of Nigerian Society of Engineers, Registrar of COREN, and Pearl Consultants which was led by Engr. Mayne David West, as well as other key stakeholders.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/07/28/fg-examines-n1trn-coastal-road-design/

Thanks!

I think this sort of design is ideal where there are land constraints (like in the first two pictures) or space contsraints (third picture).

In the case of the Expressway, I think there is still enough space particularly on the right side (eastward facing Epe).

^^
DLR, and that's Canary Wharf.

Gents,

Any update on the work being done from 2nd to 3rd Roundabout?

geeodus:

Gents,

Any update on the work being done from 2nd to 3rd Roundabout?

Still in progress. It hasn't rained for days, so it seems the work is moving a bit.
They should complete the expansion before the 'August break' of rain is over.

Its really heart warming to read that. Thanks.

Really looking forward to the day I will do the VGC - VI strecth in 15-20mins flat. I will surely declare asun that day.

^^^^

Don't forget to invite us o!

Published 8/5/2010 2:32:00 AM

Lagos okays study of 186km coastline

Mudiaga Affe

Lagos State Government on Wednesday said it had commissioned the study of its 186km coastline, to determine the rise of the Atlantic Ocean water level, with a view to putting in place measures to mitigate possible impact.

The coastal study, which covers Epe to Badagry, has been awarded to Messrs Royal Haskonind of the Netherlands.

The Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Mr. Adesegun Oniru, who disclosed this in Lagos, explained that the contract was awarded to the company because of its expertise and the fact that its country of origin and operation had properly managed its coastline; bearing in mind that it is a nation situated below the water level.

He lamented that federal agencies collecting dues from vessels navigating Lagos waterways had not taken any step to remove ship wrecks that had been an environmental threat to the state.

According to him, the state could not, in the face of obvious threat to its territory, ignore the situation but had to act to forestall a possible disaster.

He gave the assurance that efforts were being put in place by government to ensure that the abandoned vessels at Lekki were removed, adding that action would commence soon.

Oniru also disclosed that the same problem of ocean erosion, which occurred as a result of shipwrecks, was witnessed in Okunde, an area situated between Oniru and Elegushi estates. He said it was the state government that solved the problem.

Source: http://www.punchng.com/Article2Print.aspx?theartic=Art201008052324710

.



Why the Lekki-Epe Road deserves our cooperation


The above link points to an article contributed to Guardian newspaper by one of its readers (not me!).


I wonder whats up with the tolling? This is the month (August) we've been waiting for, any sign of tolling yet?

^^^^

Why the Lekki-Epe Road deserves our cooperation .
Monday, 09 August 2010 00:00 By Olugbemi Hassan Opinion - Columnists

I WAS in London early last year when Project Finance International named the 50 Km Lekki-Epe Expressway Project as a worthy development model. The project alongside a power project in Southern Africa had won international recognition and awards in the public private partnership category. I felt a good sense of pride about Nigeria and thought it was truly remarkable that local and international financiers had come together to fund a public-private, non-oil project of this magnitude. Surely this must be saying something about steadily growing confidence in our democracy.

In a nutshell, the Lekki-Epe Expressway was concessioned to a private company, the Lekki Concession Company, LCC, on a Build Operate and Transfer basis by the Lagos State Government some years ago. LCC is therefore mandated to rebuild and fully rehabilitate the expressway and operate it for a number of years, during which it is expected to recover its investment and thereafter hand the road back to its owners, the Lagos State Government.

Last January, when I returned to Nigeria, because this trip of only a few kilometres would take hours of sweaty frustration, we would wake up at 5a.m. and be off to our offices as early as 6 a.m., only to meet a bedlam on the expressway. We would eventually get to the office just before 8 a.m., drained physically and emotionally. While here in June, it was a pleasant surprise to see that I could commute from my organisation’s guest house in Lekki Phase One Estate to our Victoria Island offices in less than half an hour. It took the completion of the expressway up to the new second Lekki Roundabout for this harrowing experience to stop. Now, I would leave the Lekki Estate at 7a.m. and be in my VI office by 7.30a.m.

The road has also been considerably expanded. For instance the bridge segment beside Mobil’s Headquarters which used to have four lanes (with two lanes on either side of the road) has been expanded into eight lanes, with four lanes on either side. In addition, a ramp is being constructed near Caverton Helicopters to link Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, directly with Falomo bridge. This way, traffic from the Lekki end going towards Ikoyi and the Lagos Mainland can go directly onto Falomo bridge without needing to first veer off into Adeyemo Alakija Street.

The entire stretch of the completed road itself is a sight to behold. It is well-finished, maintained constantly and fully lit at night. Indeed at night, a set of officers patrol the expressway and render help to vehicle users whose vehicles may have broken down or suffered one problem or the other. A colleague whose car broke down on the expressway narrated how these route patrol officers came to her rescue, providing her with a battery to restart her car as her battery had run flat and in the process even availing her of a phone with which to call her family as her mobile phone had chosen to go dead at the same time.

What we have seen so far of this road, compares with road infrastructure elsewhere in the world and I must say it represents a very big step forward for Lagos and a good lesson to government at various levels on how to tap private sector expertise in the management of infrastructure. I have, however, been surprised at the sheer misunderstanding which many people tend to have about the Lekki Road and the rather widespread misinformation which this has tended to generate.

True, one of the highpoints of people’s worry is whether or not there will be alternative routes to the toll road. Of course, alternative routes should be made available. But the concessionaire has stated quite a few times that the State Government would provide alternative routes as it is duty bound to. An alternative route already exists for the first toll point for instance. Using the Ligali Ayorinde and Oniru Market Roads, it is possible to bypass the first toll point and yet get on the expressway. The Lagos State Government needs to step up its publicity in this regard to allay the fears of the citizens and inform them of its plans to construct alternative routes for each of the other two toll points which we are told, will be on the expressway.

Related to the question of alternative routes is the critical issue of tolling itself, moreso as LCC has yet to notify the public of the tariffs even though it has promised that it will do so no less than 14 days in advance. Naturally, many people are worried as to what the eventual tolls would be. What LCC needs to do in conjunction with the Lagos State Government is to ensure that whatever tariffs are charged are such as are readily affordable and do not over-burden citizens in anyway. The poor conditions under which the majority of our citizens live and the harrowing struggle with which they eke out a daily living, imply that this is a fact that cannot be over-emphasized. Even though LCC has assured that the tariffs will have a human-face, adding that there will be sundry discount incentives for frequent road users and danfo public transport vehicles, it needs to make this point even more poignantly in the days to come, to re-assure the people.

At the very extreme, however, are critics who argue that tolling is unnecessary and an added taxation burden on the citizens especially those who reside on the Lekki-Epe axis. But tolling is in this instance, unavoidable, as it represents the only viable way by which the local and international financiers of the project can recoup their investment. Tolling by the way is not a novelty and is employed in various countries across the world for the same purposes of infrastructure development. The 52-kilometre urbanised stretch of the Bakwena Platinum Highway in South Africa has six toll gates on it. It is not true either, as some have argued, that tolling is only applied to totally new roads and not pre-existing roads.

The Bakwena Platinum Highway, the N3 between Johannesburg and Durban in South Africa and the N4 Highway that links Pretoria and Botswana were substantially existing roads before they were concessioned to private companies for rehabilitation 10 to 15 years ago, and have 30-year toll concessions. Another is the Indiana Highway in the USA which serves as a critical transport link between highways leading to major East Coast cities and northwestern Indiana, the city of Chicago and the western USA. That highway was concessioned by the State of Indiana to a private company about four years ago, for 75 years. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, recently concessioned by the Federal Government is yet another example.

There has also been the question of the propriety of tolling on a road when only a fraction of what is supposed to be a 50-kilometre expressway has been completed. The point, however is that a road is a depreciating asset as wear and tear sets in, once it is put to use. Unless it is regularly maintained and repaired, it quickly falls into the same state of disrepair that preceded its construction or rehabilitation. And even this of course, costs money. What investor, local or foreign would want to wait for four years for a 50-kilometre road to be finalised before it begins to recoup its investment, knowing that the parts of the asset it has already built are being worn down literally-speaking on a daily basis, and that it is having to fork out significant sums of money to maintain and repair the asset while the rest of it is still being constructed?

The Lekki-Epe Expressway is a remarkable stride by the Lagos State Government in tackling the growing city’s infrastructure challenges and for which it deserves commendation. The government and the concessionaire, however, need to do a better job of public education and enlightenment. The public, on the other hand must hold the duo accountable for ensuring that the road remains in top form and that in every way including lighting, vehicle recovery, emergency and other services being rendered, value is being rendered to the people of the state who traverse this road. On their part the LCC and the Government must also ensure that toll tariffs are reasonable and bearable by the generality of the public.

For a project which holds so much promise to help open up the Lekki-Epe axis of Lagos, enhance movement from place to place even while safeguarding life and property, and in general fast tracking economic growth and development, surely this project deserves far more support and accolades locally than it has gotten so far.

• Hassan, a development economist, works with an investment organization in the United States.

Source: http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19458:-why-the-lekki-epe-road-deserves-our-cooperation&catid=38:columnists&Itemid=615

^^,
Good balanced opinion.

@Topic, I have finally settled into the Lekki axis, and am coming to grips with the traffic when I go home from work.
Now the trafic starts from the Amazon Oil junction, and runs all the way through the 3rd roundabout. Last night I spent over an hour from Amazon Oil to Ikate Elegush, the new road beside Conoil to be precise, while it took me just 20 minutes to arrive at Amazon Oil from my office in Ikoyi.
Work seems to have slowed to a crawl on the road, as LCC seems to be interested only in testing the toll gates now.

I am told there is protest against tolling going on along the expressway right now. I cannot confirm this as I am not on ground to do so. Can anyone confirm this?

yes theres huge traffic now

read 234next if you can, it seems there are no minor feeder roads everyone is just staying put!?!?

^^^^
Goes to prove the point being made all along about the absence of an alternative route.

The protest would have been less effective if an alternative route existed!

johnie:

^^^^
Goes to prove the point being made all along about the absence of an alternative route.

T[b]he protest would have been less effective if an alternative route existed![/b]

How in the world could that be the case if the protestis BECAUSE of the absence of an alternative route? ROFLMAO!!

“it seems there are no minor feeder roads everyone is just staying put"

Dis Guy's post above