The Lekki Concession Company (LCC), the concessionaire for the 49.4km Lekki Toll Road in Lagos, has again stated that payment of tolls will not commence August 1st 2010, as is being widely speculated. Mr. Opuiyo Oforiokuma, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LCC who made the clarification in Lagos over the weekend, said that tolling at the Admiralty Circle Plaza is dependent on the fulfilment of certain conditions.
Those conditions, he said, include the completion of the first 6 kilometres, expansion of ExxonMobil Bridge and completion of the first Toll Plaza Complex. An Independent Engineer is expected to certify these sections as ready for use, in line with international best practice. Only thereafter will LCC be entitled to tolling at the first toll plaza also known as Admiralty Circle Plaza.
“LCC has also said that notwithstanding the timing of when independent certification has been achieved, we will still give the public no less than 14 days notice of the toll tariffs before we commence tolling. We have not as yet announced the toll tariffs; accordingly, we have no plans to commence tolling on August 1st,” added Mr. Oforiokuma.
“In view of the foregoing, we would like the general public and all other stakeholders to be aware that LCC has not at any time informed the public, the press, or government, that we will commence tolling on August1st. These reports are not accurate and do not reflect the true state of affairs,” he stated.
Mr. Oforiokuma recalled that LCC did earlier say that it would be in a position to commence tolling during the 1st week of August. However, he said this was tied to the current stage of progress in completing Section 1 of the road works (Km 0-6; expansion of ExxonMobil Bridge; and completion of the first Toll Plaza Complex); and the expectation that this Section will be independently certified as substantially complete by then. Such independent certification, he said, is in line with how international best practice projects are managed, and is the trigger for LCC''s entitlement to commence tolling.
Mr. Oforiokuma further stated that the Lagos State Government is responsible for the provision of alternative routes that will allow road users who do not wish to pay tolls, to bypass the toll plaza. Such road users will still have the opportunity of returning to the Expressway, after bypassing the toll plaza, where they will continue to enjoy the new road and the services that LCC is providing. In this regard, he said road users can bypass the first toll plaza by using the Oniru Market Road or Ligali Ayorinde Road, both of which connect to Lekki-Epe Expressway.
He said LCC is working together with the Lagos State Government to provide alternative routes at the other toll plazas before tolling commences at those locations.
“LCC understands that the commencement of tolling on the Lekki-Epe Expressway is a significant event for road users and other stakeholders who live, work, do business, and regularly visit the Lekki-Epe Axis,” he said. “It is therefore understandable that people want to know how this will affect them and when exactly tolling will start. This is why LCC regularly takes the time to explain the process that we are going through, and also to clarify the facts when we observe that incorrect information is being circulated about our plans.”
The landmark Lekki Toll Road project is a flagship Public Private Partnership initiative, which is being executed by the Lekki Concession Company under a 30-year, build, operate and transfer (BOT) Concession model. The road will be expanded and fully refurbished and thereafter managed by the company throughout this 30-year period. Another 20 kilometres of Coastal Road is also expected to be constructed in the second phase of the project. The initiative is privately financed from offshore and local financial institutions, and has attracted considerable international interest and awards in the light of its importance and innovation. The entire infrastructure will be transferred back to Lagos State at the expiration of the 30- year Concession period.
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