With effect from February 1 2018, residents of Ajah, Lekki and motorists plying the popular Admiralty Circle Toll Plaza and that of the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge Toll Plaza will have to pay more for crossing the toll as announced by the management of the toll, The Lekki Concession Company Limited (LCC).
The concessioner made the announcement in a press statement released on Thursday that the increase in toll fare is as a result of current economic and business realities that have adversely increased the cost of operations and maintenance of the company’s loan obligations.
The company’s Managing Director, Mohammed Hassan, disclosed that several feedbacks and recommendations from countless consultations with stakeholders in every part of the Eti-Osa Local Government area last month, fueled the move by the company to increase toll fares to be paid by motorists plying the Expressway and the Link Bridge.
The Lagos state government had sometimes in November 2017 increased the toll fare but was halted by a widespread protest by Lagosians mostly by commuters in the area.
Again the LCC in January also took another step of increasing the toll fare but was forced to withdraw due to the crippling fuel scarcity that ushered in the new year.
Hassan in the statement said “Since the commencement of tolling in December 2011, the toll tariffs had remained the same despite the continuous increase in the cost of operations to ensure that the toll plazas and the road infrastructure are well maintained. The toll review has also become necessary to enable the company meet its loan obligations to its local and foreign lenders, considering the fact that foreign exchange rates have continued to increase astronomically in the last couple of years. “LCC cannot continue to operate or provide the services required from us if we do not review the toll tariffs”.
According to the company traditional rulers and community leaders, residents’ associations and youth groups, as well as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Eti-Osa Local Government Area all gave their consent that toll be increased as there was a need for constant upgrade of road facilities, since the Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe corridor is rapidly becoming an international economic hub for investors.
