In a heated stakeholders meeting convened by Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Oshiyemi, and attended by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, concerns over the recent removal of inner street gates in Lekki I took center stage.
Wahab defended the decision, emphasizing that it was made in the broader interest of all residents of the state.
At the Alausa meeting, he expressed regret over the painful necessity of the removal but stressed that it was crucial for the government to regulate operations in Lekki I, a government scheme.
Wahab assured residents that the gates would be returned after an amicable agreement is reached on re-installation modalities.
He insisted on conditions such as gates remaining open until midnight and having personnel to ensure seamless entry and exit.
Addressing misconceptions, Wahab clarified that all ministries, including transportation, operate under the purview of the Governor, and the decision to remove gates involved various considerations, avoiding accusations of selective removal.
Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Oshiyemi, also emphasized that the meeting aimed to ensure that if streets are gated, all rules and regulations must be followed.
He highlighted the delicate balance between personal security and constitutional rights to free movement.
The Chairman of the Lekki Residents Association, Yomi Idowu, appealed to the state government to reconsider the removal decision.
Idowu recounted compliance with transportation directives to keep gates open but cited challenges with some residents refusing to comply.
He linked the proliferation of street gates to the #EndSARS aftermath, where residents sought self-protection against intrusion.
As the controversy unfolds, residents, government officials, and the association continue to navigate the delicate balance between security concerns and the constitutional right to free movement.
