LCC not raising toll fare, but going full cashless on Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge

For reasons bordering on enhanced, efficient, flexible and quality service delivery, Lekki Concession Company Limited (LCC) says it will implement the full-scale of cashless payment beginning from January 1, 2020.

The new initiative will, however, not bring about an increase in the toll paid on Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, meaning the fare will remain the same.

This is contrary to our story on December 24, titled “Concessionaire explains why motorists have to pay more on Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge”, which erroneously said that Lekki Concession Company Limited (LCC) would be raising the toll paid by motorists on Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge by 100 percent beginning from January 1, 2020.

BusinessDay apologises for the mix-up and regrets any embarrassment the initial publication may have caused the concessionaire and the motoring public.

While the toll remains unchanged, only electronic payment systems that include eTags, prepaid cards, contactless cards and payment vouchers would be acceptable as means of payment, according to LCC management.

Yomi Omomuwasan, managing director of LCC, said there would be additional convenience services offered by LCC including 24/7 security and traffic patrol services, free breakdown/recovery assistance, ambulance services, LCC dedicated police, LASTMA, Man O’ War, amongst others.

“We offer these services free of charge to road users irrespective of if you paid tolls or not. Our aim is to ensure a safe environment and ease of traffic flow on the expressway,” he assured.

The Lekki-Ikoyi Link is an engineering marvel constructed by the Lagos State government under Babatunde Fashola as governor. It was aimed to serve dual purposes including decongesting the Lekki-Epe Expressway and also enabling motorists to connect to the mainland through Ikoyi.

“We deemed it fit to upgrade the tolling system in order to achieve efficiency in traffic management on both the Lekki Road and Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge,” Omomuwasan explained.

He explained further that the new order is in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E policy to provide respite to Lagosians in terms of adequate traffic management and free flow of traffic.

According to him, LCC has merged the tolling account of Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge with that of Admiralty Circle Toll Plaza such that one road user can make use of one or same card to access both tolling plazas without hitches.

On the Admiralty Circle Toll Plaza, which caters for vehicle users plying Lekki-Epe-Eti Osa Road, both cash and cashless toll collections would still be allowed from road users.

“We are making every preparation like carrying out regular media campaigns using billboards, flyers, banners, newspaper publications and other media outlets to enlighten and educate the general public on the commencement of cashless toll collection next year,” he said.

He said there would be a demonstration of what would happen on January 1, 2020 by next week to enable the firm to take lessons from some of the teething problems that would emerge before the full or 100 percent cashless toll begins.

Omomuwasan said LCC recently launched LCC Mobile App that would enable road users to register for e-tag, call for help in case of emergencies and top up accounts from one’s home or office without having to make physical visit to LCC office.

Stating that no additional fees would be collected from road users that go cashless as planned, the LCC boss said that compliant road users would be rewarded with 10 percent payment discounts for using e-tags and other electronic payment systems.

He stated that LCC was also keen on offering auxiliary services that include round-the-clock patrol to aid traffic movement at black spots, ambulance service to cater for emergencies in the case of accident and protocol arrangement with police and LASTMA officers to control traffic.

He said the firm would also engage agents to handle the informal sector especially the unbanked.

Earlier, Veronica Jacob, commercial and corporate media, had described LCC as a Special Purpose Vehicle set up specifically to execute the Eti-Osa Lekki Toll Road Concession Project.

 

CHUKA UROKO