The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has chided the state government for allegedly embarking on several projects under the purview of local government areas.

Chairman of the state chapter of PDP, Mr Deji Doherty, alleged that most local government areas have bequeathed their primary responsibilities of infrastructure development to the state government.

He stated this during an interview in Lagos on Friday.

According to Doherty, the rehabilitation of inner road in some parts of Lagos, as well as investments in the Primary Healthcare Centres, are the responsibilities of the local council areas which the state government has taken over.

He said, “Unfortunately, apart from very few, the bulk of the projects they embark on are meant for the local government areas.

“Building of a one kilometer flyover is a job for the LGA. The beautification of roundabouts is for LGA. The construction of drainage channels in many instances is for LGA. The investment in Primary Health Centres in the various LGAs is for local councils. The investment in primary education is for LGA, not for the state. Most of the inner road projects are the jobs of the LGAs.

“The place of LGA now in Lagos does not even exist. It was only during the era of ex-governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode that we had one performing LGA chairman in Amowo-Odofin LGA. He was the only one that was outstanding during the Fashola and Ambode era. So, these things are happening and we are opposed to them.”

Doherty also stated that the PDP would soon seek legal redress over the introduction of an e-pass on road users plying the Lekki-Epe corridor by the state government.

He said apart from the fact that the e-pass was inconveniencing, the collection of N1,000 from defaulting motorists was illegal.

“Lately, there was an increment in the tollgate fees at the Lekki corridor of the state. First, as opposition, we are opposed to the tollgate along that corridor because it is a road that was built with the tax-payers money. The road was only rehabilitated, it was not a new road. So, development fees had already been collected from all the landlords along the Lekki axis.

“Now, they have said everybody must have an e-pass and if you do not have that you must pay N1, 000 as a penalty. This is unethical and not acceptable. It is an abuse of powers given to the governor by the people. We are not living in the jungle, we are in 2020.

“What happens to those who ply that corridor once in a long while, it means they will first go and secure the e-pass from an office before plying the route. This is illegal and we would take it up legally. This is against the standard rules that govern the collection of toll fees management worldwide and it is exploitation in its rawest form,” he added.