Two Lagos State governorship candidates in the February elections, Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress, and Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party have again disagreed over the collection of tolls on the Lekki-Epe Expressway. In an interactive forum with the candidates organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Agbaje said he would stop the payment of tolls in that axis if he becomes the next governor of Lagos State. But Ambode said it was in the programme of his government to continue with the toll collection, arguing that it was the only way the government was generating revenue to maintain the road.
The argument about the toll emanated from a question that was thrown to the candidates about their plans to improve the situation of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in the light of the constant gridlock in the area. Ambode had replied that the road belonged to the Federal Government and that the state had been trying to work on the road but was prevented by the PDP-led Federal Government.
However, Agbaje explained that the state government could work more with the Federal Government on providing alternative means of transport to ease the traffic. He argued that the work of building roads should not be left in the hands of the Federal Government but that the state government could work with the private sector to provide alternative transport like the light rail system.
At the mention of private participation, Ambode cut in, pointing out to Agbaje that he was proposing an end to the only Public-Private Partnership project in Lagos state which was the Lekki-Epe toll gate. Ambode said:
“Mr. Agbaje seems to be contradicting himself because a man who has just proposed to scrap the Lekki-Epe tollgate which is the only PPP project cannot be talking about public private partnership in the rail system.”
Agbaje’s response was to remind Ambode that the Lekki-Epe tollgate had ceased to be a PPP a long time ago. He said:
“The Lekki-Epe tollgate is a government project. The government signed a contract with the private partners for N50bn. Government had since paid off the original private partners to the tune of N80bn instead of the initial N50bn agreed. I see no reason why people should continue to pay toll.”