• Urges Sanwo-Olu to abolish Admiralty Circle, Lekki-Ikoyi toll gates
As some pressure groups and civil society organisations mark the one year anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, retired Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju, on Tuesday said recourse to violence is a harbinger of ruins and destruction.
He stressed the need for youths and Nigerians, in general, to always embrace peace, saying violence and a hostile atmosphere in any society hinders progress and socio-economic developments.
In a statement forwarded to the Nigerian Tribune, Olanrewaju contended that there are indeed lessons to be learned on both sides of the divide a year after the #EndSARS protests, which rocked major parts of the country.
He stated: “Personally as one who has been part of the Nigerian journey both in times of peace and war, having served my nation at the echelon of my profession as GOC Third Armored Division and as a member of the Provisional Ruling Council – the most significant lesson to me is the unity of our nation and the issue of peace.”
“No nation can thrive in chaos. And nothing meaningful can be achieved through violence. I fought in the Nigerian civil war and I know that the recourse to violence is a harbinger of ruin and destruction. It should never happen again.”
“In this wise, as a patriot and a stakeholder in the Nigerian project, I want to advise the Lagos State government to take the following steps in order to ensure the endurance of peace and genuine reconciliation among all Nigerians who dwell in Lagos state.”
“The Lagos State government should remove the toll booths on both the Admiralty Circle and the Lekki -Ikoyi toll gates. The Toll Gates were then and are still objects of hate and aversion among commuters and motorists.”
“At a time of great economic crisis when the rich and the poor are feeling the harshness of a depressed economy, it will be insensitive and wrong to bring back the toll gates which no doubt will add to the economic misfortunes of our people.”
“Transporters will increase their fares; traffic gridlocks will return, stretching from Ozumba Mbadiwe to Ajah and from Alexander in Ikoyi backing up to the Third mainland bridge. Man hours will be wasted. Motorists often collapse in the heat and emission of choking carbon monoxide.”
“Surely, this is not what we want. The Lekki axis is an unplanned increasingly growing city with only one exit and only one entrance. There is hardly any manufacturing plants or any major industries here save vast estates and various residential abodes.”
“Lagos is about the only major metropolis on earth where there are two intra -city toll gates. Toll gates are often placed between cities. The danger here is that the road is perpetually clogged, entrapping motorists in a permanent gridlock thereby creating opportunities for roving robbers and outlaws who rob both commuters and motorists at will.”
Sanwoolu must avoid the shedding of the blood of our youths on the streets of Lagos. The stopping of the street urchins and gang warfare at the least provocation requires strong and effective policing. Lagos State must use the billions already generated from over 12 years of toll collection to build alternative roads to alleviate the pains and anguish of commuting on the Lekki axis,” Olanrewaju remarked.
Credit: Nigerian Tribune