A group, Concerned Lekki Residents, has applauded the Lagos State Government’s efforts in removing all illegal inner street gates in Lekki Phase One area of the state to ease traffic flow.
The concerned property owners, led by Prince Ayoola Ojeikere, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led government had taken the right step long overdue.
According to the spokesman, some residents associations and group of ‘powerful individuals” have formed the habit of erecting gates and barricades on various streets for flimsy reasons.
“We are very happy with this latest move by the Lagos State Government to remove all illegal street gates in Lekki. This has long become a thing of concern to some of us.
“We wonder why the state government will build roads and some people will indiscriminately mount gates. I think the government has slept for so long.
“Blockage of Admiralty Road and demand for Access Code for access is another area the government must look into. This should not be allowed to continue.
“We believe this will bring no small relief to not only to many Lekki residents but also the generality of motoring public.
“Admiralty Road gate by Fatayi Arobieke Street should be removed to allow motorists to access adjourning streets in the area,” Ojeikere said.
According to him, apart from impeding access, the indiscriminate mounting and multiplicity of the gates is defacing the aesthetics of Lekki and its environs.
Describing the road blockage through erection of gates as infringement of residents’ rights to movement on public roads, Ojeikere called on Sanwo-Olu to stop construction of gates on government roads and issuance of access codes to ply them.
“We must not allow some people to continue to take laws into their hands for selfish interest, thereby making life difficult for others,” he said.
Ojeikere said that the issuance of access code to public road had increased the hardship and stress of motoring residents and pedestrians, in accessing their homes and doing their businesses.
He said that Admiralty Road and Fatayi Arobieke Street are linked to Babatunde Anjose Street (Studio 21) which is a major adjoining road in Lekki Phase One.
NAN recalls that the Lagos State Government on Saturday began the removal of illegal street gates permanently closed to traffic around Lekki Phase One area of the state.
The government had issued ultimatum to gated streets owners in Lekki area to open them for traffic or face the consequence.
The Lagos commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on his X handle on Saturday, said the removal of the illegal gates followed several days of traffic snarl which residents connecting Lekki were experiencing.
He said that this was due to the inability to access connecting roads due to the indiscriminate mounting and multiplicity of the gates in many parts of the state, defacing the aesthetics of the environment and causing unnecessary traffic in the major roads.
