The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lekki residents

  • Lekki residents want FG to collaborate with LASG to ease state’s roads

    The Lekki Estate Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA) have called on the Federal Government to grant Lagos State a special city status and allocate one per cent of the nation’s budget to its development.

    The President of LERSA, Olorogun James Emadoye, told the News Agency of Nigeria that this had become necessary given the fact that the state is a commercial hub and a mega-city.

    Emadoye said that Lagos State had the potential to contribute more to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but the metropolis’ potential was being curtailed by mobility issues.

    “In the past ten years, population explosion has affected Lagos more than any other part of the state. It now takes an average of three to four hours (especially on a weekday morning) to access Lagos Island from some parts of Lekki and about the same time on the return trip.

    “Lagos, being the commercial hub of Nigeria is no doubt a mega city. It is wholly unfair the way Lagos has been treated since the seat of government relocated to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    “The Federal Government of Nigeria must declare Lagos a special city with at least one per cent direct allocation of the nation’s budget to the development of the city.

    “Such declaration will see Lagos contributing more to the nation’s GDP and the end will be a win-win position for Nigeria,’’ the LERSA president said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the LERSA is an umbrella body of all the estates, businesses and dwellers in the area, now referred to as Lekki.

    The Lekki suburbs start from the 1004 flats to Epe and the Lekki Free Trade Zone environs. It also includes the Dangote Refinery (which is under construction), the New Lagos Airport, several residential estates in the region.

    Emadoye stressed that the mobility challenges of the city were solvable, urging the Federal and State Governments to combine efforts to introduce four rail lines into the city.

    “One rail line should run from Epe to Marina, another from Ikorodu to Marina, Ota to Marina and the fourth, Badagry to Marina.

    “There should also be connecting links to these major lines and the transportation problems of Lagos would be virtually solved,’’ he said.

    Emadoye added that the Lekki region could also benefit hugely from the development of water transportation.

    “It takes about 20 minutes from Badore to Marina by sea and the same time from Ogombo Town to Marina. The development of these alternate means of mobility will truly make Lagos a mega city.’’

    He identified the advantages of introducing an effective rail system to include: huge savings on fuel, address subsidy challenges and an elongation of life of the few available roads as virtually all heavy loads move from road to rail for mobility, if implemented.

    The LERSA president said that additionally, the ripple effect of reduced stress from transportation would increase the life expectancy of the average Lagos resident from the current level to maybe 60 years.

    He urged that Lagos State and other such major cities be allowed to keep their Value-Added Tax (VAT) collection as a development fund, should challenges be encountered with funding from the consolidated funds.

    Addressing the recent traffic situation between the toll gate at Eleganza and Abraham Adesanya for Lekki residents specifically, Emadoye said LERSA was holding several meetings with the Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC) on the effective management of traffic on the road.

    According to him, several requests, including the development of the coastal roads, are being made, adding that such roads could be developed on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) basis and tolled.

    “Currently, the road has not benefited from the BRT system of the state and the other major challenge is that Lekki is a one road only city. One must come into the area by one road and leave by the same road, there are no alternatives.

    “The absence of alternative roads is responsible for the resultant traffic on the road.

    “However, with the coastal road tolled, the existing road bequeathed to us since the 1980s can then be freed from tolling.

    “The incoming governor actually promised to develop the coastal road, and whilst we congratulate him sincerely on his victory at the poll, we pray God to grant him the wisdom, strength and resources to fulfil most of his electoral promises,’’ the LERSA president said.

    He expressed the association’s readiness to partner with the state in the provision of a general hospital and the establishment of more primary and secondary schools in the region.

    “We intend to support the government in all ways possible to succeed.  We shall make freely available LERSA’s quality human capital to the government.

    “We also promise to respond to the state whenever we are called upon. LERSA shall remain a solid support to the government,’’ Emadoye said.

    NAN

  • Lekki residents to tackle traffic gridlock

    •Exco members take oath of office

    Stakeholders of the Lekki Peninsula Phase I Residents Association have concluded plans to tackle increasing traffic challenges.

    The group aims to, among other plans, liaise with the Lagos State Government to remove the Admiralty Way Roundabout and replace it with a traffic light system.

    They also highlighted transportation and environment as key areas in need of attention.

    The group spoke at the inauguration of new executive that will pilot the affairs of the community in the next two years.

    Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) administered the oath of office on Sir Kayode Otitoju, who was elected as Chairman, Chika Allison – Vice Chairman, Funmi Adeogun – Secretary and Oliver Obi – Treasurer.

    Otitoju declared that the administration would strive to return the dignity of the Lekki people in light of recent efforts to commercialise the community.

    He said commercial workers, who dominate the community have thwarted the exclusive image the community was striving to build with the inflow of hawkers, cart pushers, petty traders, commercial bike riders

    Otitoju therefore said he would work to restore the image while evaluating the state of implementation of the ongoing Lekki peninsula ilium and the shoreline protection projects with a view to solving environmental problems and challenges.

    The administration, he said, also plans to do constant clearing and cleaning of medians and setbacks on the main and arterial roads while prohibiting illegal dumping of refuse and solid waste on roads, zonal streets and neighbourhood.

  • Court dismisses lawyer’s N200m suit against Lekki residents

    A Lagos State High Court has dismissed a suit by a lawyer Mr Fredrick Chinedu Anaje, who claimed that he was denied access to a road on the Island.

    Justice Wasiu Animahun dismissed the suit on the ground that the applicant’s rights were not violated.

    Anaje sued residents of Peninsula Garden Estate in Lekki, Eti Osa Local Government Area, alleging that they erected a wall barricade on Ogombo Road without approval from the state government.

    He sought a declaration that preventing him from using the road by erecting the wall was unconstitutional and amounted to a violation of his right to freedom of movement guaranteed by Section 41 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

    The applicant prayed the court to declare that the respondents’ act of “forcefully and maliciously” subjecting him to use an unsafe, bushy and impassable road was unlawful and amounted to “degrading and inhuman treatment”.

    He asked for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents or their agents from taking any step that would infringe on his rights to movement and personal dignity.

    Anaje sought N200million in general damages against the respondents for violating his rights, as well costs of the action “on a full indemnity basis”.

    Mr Sulyman Bello, Olu Adewusi, Dr Maureen Igwe, Nicholas Adesina, Abiodun Ekeade, Funmilayo Ekeade and Femab Properties Ltd are the respondents.

    Anaje said he lives on a street in Ogombo town and that he uses the Ogombo Road, which he said was for the public, to access the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

    According to him, despite being issued with contravention notices by the state, the respondents restricted the residents’ access to the road by building the wall, thereby forcing them to use an unsafe, bushy and impassable road.

    But, the respondents, in a counter affidavit sworn to by Adesina, said Femab Properties bought the large expanse of land on which the estate and the road in dispute are.

    He said the government later confirmed that the two roads leading to the estate were private, and that it advised other residents in the neighborhood to take steps to make other access roads motorable.

    The respondents, through their lawyer Adebayo Adesola, argued that although contravention notices were issued, the wall was not demolished, which supports their claim that the government admitted that the wall was on a private road.

    Justice Animahun noted that Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution provides that every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person and shall not be subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment.

    To the judge, Anaje’s case is that the road’s blockage indirectly made him to commute through a road that was not motorable, which the lawyer felt constituted inhuman and degrading treatment.

    “What the case reveals is that the applicant would not have complained of infringement of Section 34 of the Constitution if the other access road is motorable. It follows that infringement of the applicant’s right arose from the deplorable state of the road.

    “It is my view that this head of claim is only maintainable against whoever made the road to be in deplorable condition,” the judge held.

    The judge, after discussing what fundamental human rights entail, said he could not hold that a citizen has a fundamental right to use good roads.

    “The conditions of roads vary. In some areas good roads are a necessity. In some, they are a luxury. In some other locations, motorable roads are not required. An example is the riverine areas.

    “In other words, the right to a good road may be recognised in law but it is certainly not an inalienable right. It does not qualify for litigation under Chapter IV of the Constitution.

    “It is a luxury in the class of economic, social and educational rights guaranteed in Sections 16, 17 and 18 of the Constitution and yet rendered unenforceable.

    “I, therefore, hold that the claims anchored on Section 34 of the Constitution are not well founded and, therefore, fail,” Justice Animahun held.

    The judge also dismissed Anaje’s claim that his right to freedom of movement under Section 41 of the Constitution was violated.

    “This appears easy. Once there is no confinement and there is an alternative route, there cannot be an infringement of freedom of movement,” he said.

    Citing the case of Adeyemo vs Akintola (2004) 12 NWLR (PT 887) 390, Justice Animahun added: “The above implies that restriction of movement will not arise where the applicant is at liberty to use alternative routes.

    “The restriction envisaged under Section 41 of the Constitution must be total. This is not the case here.

    “In view of the above, I hold that the fundamental rights of the applicant were not infringed.

    “The amended originating motion on notice dated 19/06/2017 therefore fails and is hereby dismissed.”

  • Ikoyi, V/I, Lekki residents get 14 days to remove ‘illegal’ structures

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has given Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki residents 14 days to remove “illegal” structures from inner streets.

    A statement yesterday by Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Mr Tunji Bello said the governor gave the ultimatum after being briefed on the completion of the first stage of the exercise which involved major streets.

    Bello said the monitoring committee would deploy its task force to the inner streets of Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki after the grace period.

    He said a mop up was carried out early this year when it was observed that some of the cleared places were being reconstructed, adding that the governor has directed that another mop up be done.

    Bello explained that since the completion of the first stage, the committee has continued with its advocacy programme on the need to sustain the gains and ensure retention of the areas’ original masterplan.

    The special committee, he added, has also been engaging stakeholders like Victoria Island Ikoyi Residents Association (VIIRA) on how the Clean Up exercise can record more gains in terms of voluntary compliance by residents.

    To recalcitrant residents, Bello said: “We will bring the full effect of the law to bear on whoever contravenes our State Environmental Sanitation laws.

    For all the mechanics and roadside automobile engineers who have been dislodged from the major streets but have relocated to the inner streets and have converted all the walkways, playgrounds, you have still not reached your operating destination. The task force is coming after you when the second phase commences. The earlier you realise that there is no place for roadside mechanics, street traders, shanties or abandoned properties in those areas, the better for you”.

    He said the government would not hesitate to shut down the Federal Marriage Registry in Ikoyi whose patrons park indiscriminately on the road if the practice is not stopped.

    The SSG said mobile courts would sit to try offenders on all days of the inner streets Clean- Up operation.