Lekki-Epe Expressway cancellation: I won’t withdraw suit against Lagos, lawyer says Ben Ezeamalu The lawyer said he is still sceptical about Lagos’ intention. Human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has said he would not withdraw his legal suit against the Lagos State Government and the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) over the tolling of the Lekki-Epe expressway. The Lagos State Government on Tuesday announced the termination of its concession with the LCC. The Lagos State House of Assembly had approved a N7.5 billion supplementary budget to enable the government acquire the 30 year concession from LCC. Mr. Adegboruwa said that though the state government’s move is commendable, “it would appear that there is more to it than meets the ordinary eyes. “Indeed the people and residents of Lagos, had stoutly resisted this callous exploitation by the LCC and LASG (Lagos State Government), whereby brute force was unleashed on all of us that dared to speak against it,” Mr. Adegboruwa said. “I believe the House of Assembly of Lagos is on a journey of deception. Why wait this long, after LCC had almost milked the people dry? This matter goes beyond the surface revocation of the concession,” he added. The LCC commenced toll collection on the 49 kilometre expressway in 2011, with road users paying between N50 (for motorcycles) and N350 (for light and heavy trucks) per trip on the road. Mr. Adegboruwa insisted that the road concession was a “fraud” on the people and residents of Lagos. “Till now, the road construction, of 49 kilometres to Epe, has not extended up to Ajah, leaving people to contend with unending traffic gridlock every day, paralyzing business and movement,” Mr. Adegboruwa said. “The House of Assembly should set up a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the project, as to the loans collected, the scope of the project, the reason for the abandonment of the road construction and indeed the quantum of money collected from motorists, by way of illegal tolling, since September 18, 2011. “Unless this is just a political gimmick aimed at 2015, the government should take concrete steps to re-award the road contract to a competent contractor and free our people from the collective slavery and extortion of profit makers.” Mr. Adegboruwa further called on the Lagos State government to publicize the details of the concession with LCC, as well as cancel and dismantle the toll plazas along the expressway. “Road infrastructure is a statuary responsibility of government and it should never be the subject of any concession, to private individuals, to profiteer,” he said. “It is for these reasons that I cannot yet withdraw my cases in court, against LCC and Lagos State.”
Posted on: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 10:36:39 +0000
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