Recently, the fees collected on the Lekki-Epe toll gate and the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge were increased. Our Assistant Editor, CHINWE MADUAGWU, spoke to a cross section of the regular users of the routes on the increase and how it has affected them.
On January 26, the Lekki Concession Company, (LCC) issued a statement to the effect that it would increase the toll fees charged at the Admiralty Circle toll plaza and the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge Toll Plaza from February 1, 2018.
The increment, according to the statement, was to enable the company meet up with its obligations, stressing that the decision was taken after extensive consultations held with stakeholders in the Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Express Way of Lagos State.
The increase has, of course, taken effect as announced and has been generating reactions from individuals and groups. The Next Edition spoke with a cross section of Lagosians especially those who live and do business on the Lekki-Epe axis on what they thought about the increment and how it has affected them.
Dr. Eyo Nyong feels the hike in toll fare is not justified. He speaks more on the issue; “I use an SUV and on the Ikoyi link bridge we were paying N300. Now, it’s N400, that’s N100 increment. The same thing at the admiralty toll gate. There we were initially paying N150, now they’ve added N100 so it’s N200. So, if I have to pass through the toll gate twice in a day, it’s going to be N500 per day and at the other end(Lekki/Ikoyi) it’s going to be N800 a day. Then, should I have cause to make several trips across in a day, it could be anything in multiples of N400.
“In as much as the road itself was a relief, we believe that this is one of the gains of government that is put in place for the people. What is the government there for – to cater for the needs of the citizens. We understand that there are fees they have to pay, loan repayments, among others, but in the present circumstances, the increase is not realistic. Bear in mind nobody has talked about salary increment or wage increment of any kind in the last couple of years.”
Dr. Nyong pointed out that even though the company and the government have their bills to pay, the people should not be punished for them to make money. His words, “we understand government needs to pay it’s bills but it has to be done in a way that reflects the caring disposition of the government. It should be done in a painless manner that people will be able to relate with the increment. Don’t you forget that we also pay taxes. So is this toll gate another form of taxation?
“The toll is supposed to be for the maintenance and upkeep of the road but the road is a work in progress. Most of the dividends of the road are yet to be delivered and now we are visited with this kind of increment. I think the government should have a rethink. The increment is not supposed to be done in a manner that it becomes punitive to the people that are using the road. We implore those responsible for the toll to have a rethink and look at the issue again.”
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For Mrs. Uju Ogwude, a business woman, the increment is neither justified nor justifiable. Lamenting over the action, she said, “we have an SUV and we pay 250 per crossing that’s N500 for a return trip and that’s because we have an E-tag otherwise it would be 600 per return trip. For someone like me that runs a business where I deliver some of the products myself, I charge customers within VIctoria Island and ikoyi N600 for delivery, imagine if I am charged 500 alone on toll, does 100 cover my fuel cost for the distance? Then motorcycle with 200cc capacity engine pays 200 and this is the required engine capacity for delivery bikes in Lagos, If I still buy a bike for my delivery that’s 400 alone on toll then 200 is for fuelling the bike, servicing, and paying the bikers salary?
“This country isn’t favourable for businesses. Everything is hard, everything is difficult, it’s frustrating and to think we are also expected to pay tax happily, it’s ridiculous, and I don’t see any development this toll has contributed to us.”
Her husband also commutes from Lekki to the Island for work and also has to pay at the toll gate. Commenting on that, Mrs Ogwude said, Let’s talk about my husband, he pays 500 on toll daily that’s N15,000 on just toll monthly, N180,000 per annum; that does not include feeding or rent or upkeep or even fueling his car, very annoying really. Then when I add mine too that’s like three times that amount. How do we survive in this country?”
Mr. Mike Nwabufo, a Computer Engineer, said he has a company located at Lekki which he services, therefore, he commutes to the area almost on a daily basis. He also sees no justification for the increase in toll fare. “I don’t see any justification for the increase. I just feel that politicians are mopping up funds for election. In fact that was my first reaction when the announcement was made – politicians are mopping up funds.
“There’s no reason for the increment. The place has not added any value and the government has not added anything new there to give credence to the increase. I really don’t understand, what have they done there to warrant the increase or have they increased the salaries of people working there? What exactly is the issue? In these hard times, it is not justifiable at all.
“I use a Honda Civic, now I pay N150 per crossing instead of N100. The Ikoyi bridge is there, you can’t even go there because it’s now N300 as against N250 before the increment,” he said.
Mrs. Ijeoma Ekeocha shares the same views with the others seeing no justification for the increment. “There is no justification for the increase at all. The road is not maintained and the toll causes unnecessary traffic. Most times the boots are not fully manned thereby causing build up of cars at the tolls. We use an SUV and pay N300 now rather than N200 which we were formerly paying. It’s just too much,” she said.
For Mr. Anthony Orji, though he does not usually ply either the Lekki – Epe route or the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge the increment in the toll fare is not justified. “The toll gate is a long term venture so there’s no point increasing the fare,” he said.
Interestingly, our investigations revealed that in spite of the increase commercial buses plying the route have not increased their fares. Mr. Eusebius Eze told The Next Edition that the transport fare on that route has remained the same a few weeks into the increase.
