Lekki Concession Company (LCC) on Friday resumed tolling on Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge in Lagos State.
LCC opened the toll gate days after it had a meeting with Lekki communities and residents.
This followed the appeal by the Lagos government, urging Nigerians, residents, and stakeholders around Lekki and Ikoyi to show understanding.
The appeal was made by Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho, and his Transportation counterparts, Dr. Fredericks Oladeinde as well as Home Affairs, Prince Anofi Elegushi.
They made the appeal during a stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday at the Lekki Coliseum in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
However, the residents said they want the reopening halted based on the harsh economic situation in the country.
They said the tolling would aggravate their hardship.
Some Nigerians also took to social media to demand justice for people killed and injured at Lekki Toll Gate during the #EndSars protest.
“All of us present here have spoken! And not one resident is in support of tolling,” Macaroni tweeted on Wednesday.
The toll plaza was closed after October 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality.
The Lekki toll plaza on Lekki-Epe Expressway served as the ground zero for the protesters. An attack by Nigerian security agents on the unarmed protesters forced the closure of the two tolling plazas.
A report by the Lagos State judicial panel in November 2021 proposed that the Lekki toll plaza be made a memorial site for the #EndSARS protest and renaming the plaza as #EndSARS Tollgate.
“The panel recommends that October 20th of every year, the day is made a ‘Toll Free Day’ at the Lekki Toll Gate as long as the tollgate exists,” the panel report said.
In mid March 2022, LCC announced plans to resume tolling on the plaza but was opposed by many Nigerian youths who continued to insist that protesters were killed while waving the Nigerian flag and singing the national anthem during the protest.
“The timing is wrong, The people are going through a lot of hardship at the moment,” Nigerian comedian and actor Mr Macaroni said, referencing rising inflation, hike in fuel prices and lack of electricity in Nigeria at the time.
“We hope the Lagos state government will do the right thing here and suspend the resumption of Tolling.”
There are plans by some groups to protest against the resumed tolling.
An aide to Lagos State governor Jubril Gawat tweeted that “security operatives remain alert” as “officers of LCC (are) doing their duties peacefully”.
“Area Calm and everything is peaceful,” Gawat said.
Lagos police commissioner Abiodun Akabi warned against protests at the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge link.
Alabi said protesting at the tollgate is capable of grounding commercial activities in the area and obstructing the flow of traffic.
The police chief advised Nigerians to go about their lawful duties without fear of harassment and intimidation because the force will ensure the safety of lives and property.
