Residents of Lekki embarked on a peaceful protest this morning on the proposed toll fare which is supposed to take effect tomorrow, Sunday, December 18, 2011.
However, they were attacked by hoodlums; even journalists were not spared. Some of the residents revealed that these hoodlums were sponsored by government, www.angeladaviesblog.blogspot learnt. To calm the situation, police were sent in but some of the protesters were instead beaten blue black by the police.
According to eyewitnesses, the protest started out peacefully until thugs allegedly sponsored by the ruling party in the state, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), showed up with machetes and sticks and started attacking the protesters.
The protesters resisted the attacks. However, Mobile Police (MOPOL) officers soon arrived at the scene and started beating up the protesters and firing tear gas canisters at them.
www.angeladaviesblog.blogspot gathered that residents are lamenting because they are suppose to pay levy for two toll gates and each would cost N150. It would therefore cost them N600 daily, N4,200 weekly, N16,800 monthly, N201,600 annually that is excluding going out at weekends.
i just believe that the government can reach a kind of compromise with Lekki residence, the toll fee could be reduced to mitigate the cost on road users,as we know that not every one that plies that route is a money bag. But the federal government`s sudden consideration of toll re-introduction on some selected yet defaced highways is a vindication of the Lagos state governments policy for toll collection on the world class road at lekki. But the people have the right to air their discontentment, and violenceof any kind against the citizens is condemnable.
ReplyDeleteA good Government should not be insensitive to the plight of the govern irrespective of the circumstance that might surround such agitation. For crying out loud these toll of a thing as been causing a lot of controversies since its inception.Using thugs and other form of forces to coarse the protesters is a bad precedence for the governor and his party. They should realise that what goes around comes around.
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