Fashola's N29bn link bridge only for the wealthy Road users

At long last, the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge was declared open by Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, on May 29, 2013. The cable-stayed link bridge was built by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. and has a total length of 1.358 km. The bridge is expected to decongest traffic in Lekki area. The bridge is a study in architectural beauty and creativity. From Admiralty Way in Lekki, Ikoyi is just about three minutes away by car while it's just a 10-minute walk from one end to the other. One major feature of the newly inaugurated bridge is where it is suspended by cables. It is a beauty to behold. Steve Jonas, a resident of Alexander Road in Ikoyi, told our correspondent that for once, he had reason to commend the state government. He said, "The Lagos State governor has actually been doing so many things to change the face of the state. But I tell you that this is the closest project to my heart because I live in Alexander in Ikoyi but work around Shoprite in Lekki.

"Although I don't have a car, it took me just 10 minutes today to trek on the new bridge from my end to this venue. Now, I will have to walk over to Lekki without having to pay heavily as before and more so, the short walk will serve as a good exercise while going to work everyday. "I must say that this is the best I will enjoy as a dividend of democracy as a Lagosian. But I may not feel this way if I have to drive a car and pay toll of N250 per trip." Julius Berger Nigeria Plc began the construction of the bridge in October, 2008. The total length of the main bridge is 466m.
The length of cable bridge is 170m (the suspended section), the height of Pyron is 87m from water level navigational requirement while the clearance average 9m above high water level.

Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, at an interactive session with newsmen last month put the cost of the bridge at around N29bn and affirmed that it is the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa because it is a suspension bridge.

According to Hamzat, Julius Berger has a five-year contract to maintain the bridge, adding that it could be renewed at the expiration of the term. At the opening of the link bridge on Wednesday, Fashola said it would be tolled at between N100 and N500. The toll rates are N250 for saloon cars; N300 for mini vans, Sport Utility Vehicles and light pick-up trucks; N400 for non-commercial buses with a maximum sitting capacity of 26 persons; N100 for motorcycles with 200 engine capacity and above. The proposal by the Lagos State government to charge toll rates ranging from N100 to N400 on the link bridge was earlier in the week faulted by lawmakers in the state.

About 20 lawmakers present at the plenary questioned why the state government should concession and collect tolls on a bridge built with taxpayers' money and fully paid by the government. Besides, they also found it improper for the state to present a voluminous document on terms and conditions of concession agreement and tolling to them for approval, some days before the commissioning of the project. In a letter read on the floor of the assembly on Monday, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, had on behalf of the state government sought the ratification of the electronic tolling system operation, maintenance, concession terms and conditions for the bridge.

The letter also sought the approval of the lawmakers on initial maximum tolls set out in the agreement. Majority Leader, Dr. Ajibayo Adeyeye, noted that the bridge was built by the state government and had been concessioned to Lagos Tolling Company, working with two technical partners. By the agreement, 73 per cent of revenue generated goes to the state government, while 27 per cent will be for the tolling company. Also, 80 per cent of all incidental activities like adverts go to the state government, while 20 per cent goes to the operating company. The concession agreement is for 10 years, and has a five-year renewable period. Speaking on the motion, member of the House, Saka Fafunmi, noted that construction of the bridge was a laudable initiative, but queried the rationale behind the tolling. "On this one-kilometre bridge, I'm not convinced at all, after all, we did not borrow money to have this done," he said.

Apparently in agreement with Fafunmi, Deputy Speaker, Taiwo Kolawole noted that the request of the government, as claimed in the proposal, was not in line with the 2011 Public-Private Partnership law. He said, "As far I'm concerned, this has nothing to do with PPP law. This is not about provision of infrastructure because the bridge has already been constructed using the taxpayers' money. So, why should we still toll a road that we have built with our money?

Rotimi Olowo, representing Shomolu I Constituency suggested that the House should invite the Special Adviser on PPP and Commissioner for Works to explain details of the concessioning, coupled with prohibition of some vehicles from plying the bridge. Prohibited from the route are commercial motorcycles popularly known as okada, tricycles, commercial vehicles including Danfo and high capacity buses, heavy-duty trucks, articulated trucks and lorries, among others.

Apart from the lawmakers, some residents who spoke with our correspondent at the commissioning also rejected the idea of tolling the bridge.

One resident who identified himself as Mr. Rasak Shebajo accused the Lagos State government of insensitivity to the plight of the common man. He said, "If you look at this environment, you will see nothing except luxury. You will agree with me that the government knows how to please only the rich. N500 or whatever it is that they want to charge nothing to anyone living around here. An average Lagosian who would like to ply the bridge to cut off traffic will be denied the opportunity because of the tolling. "Why are they tolling every road they build? It means that if they were the people who built the Third Mainland Bridge, they would have made the bridge for the exclusive use of the rich alone. And mind you, the Third Mainland Bridge is one of the longest in Africa. "I live around the Mobil House and work at Falomo. Now apart from paying the toll of N250 if I'm to ply this link bridge, I will have to pay N120 at the Lekki Toll Plaza on one trip. And when I'm coming back, I will pay the same amount.

"As a salary earner, paying N740 five times a week amounts to N3700. Definitely, I'm deprived from using the bridge because there is no way I can afford the toll, together with fuelling the car. From my house to my place of work at Falomo, it is about 15 minutes but because of toll, see the distance I have to travel. I don't think the government is fair to me as a taxpayer." A government official who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that tolling on a project like the link bridge is not new globally. He argued that spending about N29bn on a bridge less than two kilometres is not a normal situation. He said, "It means that the funding must have been specially sourced even if the money belonged to the state government. To be fair to Lagosians, I understand how they feel but then; the money spent must be recouped for other projects to be taken care of."