Lagos State government has halted the plans of Lekki Concession Company Ltd to increase tariff on Lekki- Epe expressway and Lekki- Ikoyi link bridge. This is because the company did not receive the approval of other stakeholders, as seen in the thousands of Lagos signing of an online petition to protest the plan that was to be executed beginning from November 8, 2017.
As read in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Steve Ayorinde, on Saturday after the loud outcry that followed the proposed increase, stating that the proposed tariff increase would be put on hold for now.
The statement partly revealed by the Punch Newspaper expressed the need for the public and critical stakeholders who are the final beneficiaries of road infrastructure to be carried along at all times, even though, the government understands the need for periodic reviews of tariffs and other levies of road infrastructure. Therefore, the proposed traffic hike cannot be effected in respect of the public’s interest.
The increment, according to Ngozi Ihedigbo who led the online petition, was imposed on Lagosians by LCCL, with “absolutely no explanations”. The petition had more than 5,000 persons signing less than 12 hours after it was uploaded to an online portal, CitizenGO.
Featured image credit: The Nigerian Lawyer
