Lagos State governor Ambode promises not to collect fees at Lekki-Epe toll gate

LAGOS State governor Akinwunmi Ambode has revealed that his administration will not collect fees at the second toll point on the Lekki-Epe Expressway in response to growing pressures from local residents.

 

Opened in December 2011, the Lekki-Epe toll gate constructed by the Lekki Concession Company has been a good money earner for the Lagos State government but local residents complain about how it exploits them. Motorists are charged N150 (47p) whenever they use the toll gate and as some local people may use it up to four times a day, they end up paying a substantial amount, which has fuelled calls for it to be scrapped.

 

With the company collecting the tolls owned by former Lagos State governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the issue was a hot political topic during the recent election campaigns. People's Democratic Party (PDP) Lagos State governorship candidate Jimi Agbaje had promised to scrap the toll gate and abolish the charges being levied to motorists if elected.

 

With Governor Ambode of the APC winning the gubernatorial elections, he has decided to tread a middle path by not scrapping the existing tolls be declaring that he will not extend the project. A second toll gate is currently being built along the motorway to deal with the growing traffic and Governor Ambode has promised that this will be free.

 

Governor Ambode said: “We must start thinking of the future concerning that road. We said we will have an international airport in Epe, an export processing zone in Lekki and a deep seaport also in Lekki.

 

“Should we not start thinking about how we will improve and create a 10-lane road between Ikorodu, Itoikin, Epe and Ijebu Ode so that people can go out from there? There is no point constructing the road, paying tolls and in five years’ time, the road is gone.”

 

He added that once the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, which was being expanded into 10-lane motorway, was completed, the community would be opened up for business activities. According to Governor Ambode, his administration would make careful efforts to grow the tourism potential of the state.

 

“As more means of transportation come on board, the more than 600,000 private car owners and 120,000 motorcycles that are being put on the road in the state on a daily basis will reduce in number. We have said this is a government of continuity but it is continuity with improvement.

 

" It is about making life easier for the people. We are receptive to new ideas and that is why we are going to be creative, innovative and thinking out of the box,” Governor Ambode added.

 

He pointed out that his administration had decided to scale up governance by rearranging the civil service through the realignment of some ministries and agencies. In addition, the Lagos State government plans to create a new Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment.