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The Lagos State Government has been advised to cancel erection of Tolls on Lekki Express way and Ikoyi link bridge to avoid another blood letting.
Some youths have indicated their plan to hold another protest on Lekki TolI plaza on February 13, in reaction to the ruling of the Judicial Panel, probing the ENDSARS shooting which ordered the reopening of the plaza.
In a strongly-worded Press statement in Lagos yesterday, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri, socio-political activist and critic, said the advice became expedient to avoid another youths/police confrontation that could lead to loss of life in Lagos state.
Chief Onitiri said he was passionately imploring “our dynamic young governor of Lagos state, Babajide SanwoOlu, to cancel any reintroduction of tolls on Lekki toll gate and ikoyi link bridge to avert another blood bath in our dear state.
“We are calling for the cancellation of the tolls in the interest of peace and progress of our state.”
He explained that as stakeholders and elders in the state, they could not fold their hands and close their eyes to the imbroglio about to explode in the state as some groups are planning another peaceful protests in the state which can lead to bloody clashes.
Said Chief Onitiri, “The state is enjoying relative calm at the moment. There are so many unemployed youths daily roaming our streets for any mayhem to happen.
“An idle hand is a devil’s workshop. A hungry man is also an angry man. Our youths are angry and we cannot afford to dare them.
“Besides, with the removal of the tolls, there is now free flow of traffic. There is no more traffic gridlock caused by the tollgate along Lekki Expressway. Please, let the sleeping dogs lie.
“We were made to believe that the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) has long realised the money spent for the construction of the road.
“It is also unfair to thousands of residents in Lekki neighbourhood to always pay tolls for commuting to and from their residents. Other Lagosians don’t pay tolls for commuting to and from their estates,” Chief Onitiri stated.
Examining the economic and social situation in the country, Chief Onitiri pleaded with the state government to let Lagosians enjoy a bit of divdends of democracy.
“No good roads, no health facilities, no potable water to drink, no electricity, no security of lives and property, no employment opportunities for our teeming youths et cetera.”
The government must create an enabling environment for the common people to survive, he stressed, adding “Words of elders are words of wisdom.”