Chiemelie Ezeobi
18 December 2011
Nigeria got its first taste of ‘Occupy Protests’ Saturday in Lagos, as scores of protesters took over the Lagos-Lekki Expressway in what was supposed to be a peaceful protest against the commencement of tolling on the road.
But the protest almost got out of hand as the Nigerian Police brought in to maintain the peace, fired tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters.
Tagged ‘Operation Occupy Lekki’, the protest was held to compel the government to rescind its decision to kick off collection of fares at the Lekki tollgates, effective from today.
When the smoke from the canisters cleared, no fewer than 50 of the protesters had been arrested by the police and carted off to police stations.
In defence of the police action, the Lagos State Government, however, said the police stepped in to prevent a breakdown of law and order when alleged thugs arrived at the scene and fighting broke out.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, said the protest was politically motivated and expressed the determination of the government to prosecute those arrested for breach of the peace.
Other than the tollgate at the Lekki Admiralty Way, there are two others, 25km apart on the same stretch of the expressway. But tolling on the road will be limited to the Lekki Admiralty Way tollgate, in the first instance, until appreciable construction has been completed on other phases of the 49km expressway
Criticising the Lagos State Government’s decision to introduce three tollgates so close to one another, the protesters insisted that they would not pay tolls on any of the three gates or return to their homes.
Citing reasons why they would not pay the toll fare, those who spoke to THISDAY asked: “Where are the alternative roads meant to ease the burden from our shoulders?
“Aside that, we will not pay for an uncompleted road neither would we pay to drive on the road that would fund the LCC project.”
Also querying the choice of singling out Lekki for tolling, the residents lamented the construction of three tollgates on the same stretch of road.
Although the protest, which kicked off at approximately 8.30 am was peaceful, it was soon disbanded by policemen who manhandled some of the protesters and journalists.
No sooner had the protest kicked off when the policemen, led by the Comm-ander, Rapid Response Squad, Hakeem Odumosu, a chief superintendent of police, fired tear gas canisters at the protesters.
Some of those arrested included an Associated Press photographer who was covering the event. His camera equipment was taken before he was thrown into the back of a police truck.
The photographer was released several hours later without charge, and was treated for blunt-force trauma injuries to his neck, shoulder and knee.
Earlier, the police had beaten and arrested the leader of the protesters, Chief Wale Akala, but he was released following the intervention of some influential persons.
One of the protesters swooned and fainted after inhaling the noxious gas. He was later revived by some sympathisers.
Akala told THISDAY that their grouse was based on the fact the government by tolling the road, had totally abdicated its responsibility to protect the citizenry.
He said if the government wanted to toll the road, it must, as a matter of necessity, create a viable alternative for road users and not just the Oniru Road.
He said, “If you go through Oniru Road, you will find out that it cannot take two cars in one lane. Now, juxtapose that against the thousands of cars that ply the Lekki axis.
“Besides, the other areas along the Lekki-Epe Expressway – the Lekki Phase 1 axis – has about 100,000 residents. Now add that up to the entire residents in the area and you will find out that it is mind boggling.”
He criticised the government for resorting to the use of force instead of engaging the protesters in dialogue to find a way out of the crisis.
Warning against what he described as the fundamental wrongs on the part of the government, Akala said, “The government should suspend the tolling for now because of the possibility of anarchy like this.”
He implored the government not to allow the situation to degenerate to this level or anarchy would rule in the state. “We are appealing to them that their decision is totally unpopular with us and it should be reversed,” he said.
Vice President, Lekki Residents Association, Mr. James Emadoye, added, “There is a contract the Lagos State Government had with LCC that they would provide an alternative road and it was plainly stipulated as a coastal road.”
According to him, the Oniru Road provided as an alternative road does not serve the purpose, adding that the state government has deviated from the master plan for roads.
“Both the contract and the master plan are subject of the law in the state and we are saying that Lagos should respect its own law,” he added.
Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, who joined the protesters, condemned the move by the state government.
She said, “With the tolling, you then wonder what will be the fate of the poor masses that reside in the area especially, at Ajah.
“We are paying taxes; we pay for water, light and other sundry infrastructure. What more do they want from us, our blood? Death to all of you.”
According to the information made available by the concessionaire of the expre-ssway, Lekki Concession Company, the introduction of tolling on the road is targeted at providing better services and improve safety and convenience on the route.
The standard toll tariff for motorcycles, saloon cars and tricycles, Sports Utility Vehicles, minibuses and pick-up trucks has been pegged at N50, N120 and N150, respectively.
Commercial buses will be expected to pay N80, light trucks and 2-axle buses will pay N250 and heavy trucks and buses, N350.
Reacting to the fears that the tolls would increase transportation fares on the road, the company assured the public that commercial buses would benefit from the 47 percent public transport discount.
As incentives for road users, the company has also made provisions for swift pass and electronic tag tariffs (e-tag tariff), which entitles motorists to discounts.
Meanwhile, the state’s Commissioner for Infor-mation, Mr. Aderemi Ibiro-gba, in a statement, warned citizens not to resort to violence in expressing their grievances.
“Reports reaching us indicate that the law enforcement agents had to step in to prevent a breakdown of law and order when alleged thugs arrived at the scene and fighting broke out.
“Some arrests were made, including a top Peoples Democratic Party candidate who contested and lost during the last general elections, a development which showed that the protest itself was politically motivated.”
On the commencement of tolling, he said the suspension of toll fares was lifted because several conditions stipulated by the people in the Lekki axis, including the provision of alternative routes, had been met.
Ibirogba also said the government would probe the issue and prosecute masterminds of the reported violence during the protest.
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