The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday warned against the planned protest over the increase in toll at both the Admiralty Circle Plaza and Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge Plaza.
The warning by the police came on a day the Community Development Associations in the area also called for calm on the issue.
The managers of the toll plazas, Lekki Concession Company, effected an increase in the fees on February 1.
In the statement by its spokesman, Chike Oti, on Thursday, the Lagos State Police Command said: “It has come to the knowledge of the Lagos State Police Command that some residents of Lekki/Ajah areas of the state are planning to protest the increase in toll fare by the management of Lekki Toll Plaza.
“While the Command recognizes the right of citizens to carry out peaceful protest, the police will not standby and watch protesters take laws into hands nor allow miscreants to hijack the protest.
“The Command is using this opportunity to inform and warn the group planning this protest for tomorrow, Friday, the 9th of February, 2018, not to block the Highway, the Expressway or any road for that matter.
“All those who want to participate in the protest must organize themselves in a peaceful manner in line with public protection and assembly law.
“The Command would not hesitate to use reasonable force to prevent any group of persons from blocking the road or breaching the public peace.
“The Command however, wishes advise all to go about their lawful business peacefully on the Island and indeed every part of the state as adequate security is in place throughout the state.”
The Community Development Associations in Eti-Osa Local Government Area and Eti-Osa Local Council Development Area also on Thursday appealed to residents to allow peace to reign to enable the Akinwunmi Ambode Administration focus on delivering development to the people.
Responding to the anxiety among residents over the plan by a disaffected group to protest the recent hike in tolls at the two toll gates managed by the Lekki Concession Company, the communities noted that an alternative route exist for those who do not wish to patronize the toll gates.
A statement signed by the Chairman, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Community Development Committee, Prince L.D. Moshood, and his counterpart in Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area, Ayinde Ariwaja, urged parents and guardians to ensure that their innocent children are not drafted into any action that will lead to the disturbance of public peace.
Noting that the Akinwunmi Ambode Administration had embarked on many people-oriented projects, which have made life of the common people meaningful, the community noted that toll increase involved consultation of stakeholders such as Community Leaders, National Union of Road Transport Workers and Chiefs in the areas.
“We participated in the consultation which led to the new charges and our intervention led to the reduction of the rates earlier proposed. We believe it is a sacrifice to make to have a road that is well maintained to ensure free flow of traffic, reduce many hours spent and ensure safety of passengers and motorists,” the leaders were quoted as saying.
The Community leaders recalled the chaotic situation of the road and the insecurity of lives and properties on the Ozumba Mbadiwe-Epe-Ajah Road, which led to the clamour for the Lagos State Government to intervene.
They said: “That intervention which involved fund from private investors enabled the State to respond to our yearnings and give us a first class corridor compared to anywhere in the world.”
They said they would continue to engage the management of the LCC to ensure that it responds more urgently to the needs of the communities by embarking on corporate social responsibility projects in health, education and capital development.
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