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We won’t resume tolling at Lekki tollgate soon – LCC
The Lekki Concession Company (LCC) has said resumption of tolling at the plaza may take months because of the extent of the damage done to the plaza.
Its Managing Director Yomi Omomuwasan gave the indication on Monday while speaking at a media briefing alongside Lagos State Information and Strategy Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso.
The event was in response to the controversy surrounding the firm’s repossession of the Admiralty Circle Toll Plaza, popularly called Lekki Tollgate.
Omomuwasan urged aggrieved youths bent on preventing the firm from the evaluation of the damage done to its assets on October 20, 2020 to show understanding.
The LCC chief regretted that some people were using fake news to misinform Nigerians about the company’s ownership and whip up public sentiment against its return to business.
He cited the firm’s indebtedness to banks and the fate of its over 500 workers as the compelling reasons the damage assessment ought to begin without further delay.
According to him, LCC’s assets were “comprehensively insured” before they were burnt and that the insurance companies need to examine the extent of the damage.
Omomuwasan said, “The assessment of things that are burnt will require a team of engineers from both the LCC and those working with us. What we operate is an electronic tolling system that requires a lot of equipment to be brought together. We need to do this proper and critical assessment, and it takes some time.
“It is not something that will happen within a month. I am not sure this will happen within three months, because of the extent of what has been damaged.”
The LCC boss explained that the firm denied a forensic expert access to its servers because the letter he brought from the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry said the audit would only focus on the site of the shooting and not its servers.
He also said his company expected the analyst to return with another letter with appropriate content, but had not received any.
He explained that the non-return of the company to operation was negatively affecting its subsisting loan obligations to local and international lenders, maintenance of the road, as well as its ancillary services.
Omomuwasan said, “As of January 31, 2021, the outstanding debt liability from the local lenders was in the region of N11.6 billion and from the foreign lenders $31.1 million (USD), with the difference being the amount LCC has so far paid the lenders.
“It is important to say that before the #EndSARS protest, LCC had continued to meet up with servicing its loan obligations without default to the lenders.
“However, since the commencement of the #EndSARS protest, the forceful takeover of the Admiralty Circle Toll Plaza and the unfortunate incident of Tuesday, October 20, 2020, we have had to plead for moratorium repeatedly with our local and international lenders. It has been impossible to meet our loan repayment obligations and obligations to our workers.”
News
Just in: Tinubu swears in Rivers Sole Administrator Ibas
Just in: Tinubu swears in Rivers Sole Administrator Ibok-ete Ibas
President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Vice Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (Retd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
The administrator was sworn in on Wednesday after a short meeting with the President.
Tinubu announced the appointment of the retired naval chief at a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, when he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu, and the state House of Assembly members.
The President said his decision was based on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, saying he could not continue to watch the political situation in Rivers escalate without taking concrete action.
The suspension of Fubara and other elected representatives has been rejected and condemned by many eminent Nigerians, legal luminaries, groups such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Femi Falana, the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigerian Bar Association.
However, the emergency rule has been praised by the pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule, accusing Fubara of contravening the Supreme Court ruling on the political situation in the state.
Ibas was the Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021.
He is from Cross River State where he had his early education.
The new sole administrator went to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979 from where he proceeded to have a successful career in the Navy, rising through the ranks to the very top.
He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Nigerian Institute of Management.
President Muhammadu Buhari who appointed him as Chief of Naval Staff conferred him with the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2022.
News
Breaking: Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State
Breaking: Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following the protracted political crisis in the state.
Tinubu made the declaration during a nationwide broadcast, saying it is for six months.
He announced the suspension of the Executive Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and all the members of the House of Assembly for six months.
He immediately named an administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Retd), to take charge of the affairs of the state for the six-month period.
Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution interprets a state of emergency as a situation of national danger or disaster in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures to regain control.
A state of emergency allows the President to immediately make any desired regulations to secure public order and safety. (Channels TV)
News
BREAKING: Tinubu addresses Nigerians on Rivers political crisis
BREAKING: Tinubu addresses Nigerians on Rivers political crisis
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night will hold a nationwide broadcast to address the crisis in Rivers state.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said the broadcast will be transmitted by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
The broadcast is expected to be held by 7pm today.
Video: President Tinubu has declared state on emergency on Rivers state effective immediately, suspends Governor Fubara, his deputy governor and house of assembly members for six months.
He also nominated an administrator pic.twitter.com/jD1g9FHOez— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) March 18, 2025
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