Toll of controversies

The Eti-Osa-Lekki-Epe Expressway project has been discredited continuously, albeit erroneously, by a few as a rip-off strategy by the Lagos State Government allegedly working hand-in-hand with the Lekki Concession Company. To these antagonists, the road project should not just be. What they have neglected to say is the amount of comfort that this collaborative effort has produced.They have also chosen not to say a word about the wisdom that has gone into the creation of a wider and better road for the people who ply that road, a road that had been plagued with unending traffic jams for years. Is it not a sad irony that the only aspect of the project some disgruntled persons seem to be seeing is the collection of toll' When the initiative started way back in 2006 and the concessionaire started to construct the roads, was anyone interested in knowing who was paying for the massive roads' Now that the road is substantially completed and there is a need to get back part of the investment to be able to complete the remaining work, a hullaballoo started because payment has commenced with the Admiralty Circle Toll Plaza. The hard fact is that the expressway is for now the most convenient passage on the Lekki Epe area. This is coupled with an alternative route that has also been provided along the Oba Yesufu Abiodun Oniru-City of David- Market Road and back to the expressway for those who are not interested in the tolled route. Thus, if tolls dont work for you, use the alternative routes. This is the advantage of the expressway. The tolls are for maintenance and upkeep, so why not pay in order to keep the good work going and make moving around easy for you' I have plied that expressway now for about five years and I can say something about the clear-cut difference now. The expansion of the road has reduced traffic! Before now, thinking of moving in and out of the area was not a joke, it was like a war. I used to spend, on average, close to six hours on that road on a daily basis, going to and fro work. Now, its a straight cruise both ways and some people do not want the change. What are they thinking' Paying a little pocket-friendly amount of money for using the road and making ones destination faster and without much ado is a blessingwhen you think of how it used to be before now. And just like the numerous forward-looking projects of the Fashola administration are being replicated in some states of the federation, this concessioned road passes the quality assurance test of a good initiative that should be replicated.BukkySanu,Obadore-Ajah,Lagos State,bukky_sanu@yahoo.com
Click here to read full news..