There is tension in Lagos as many youth in the state have vowed to counter the planned February 13 #OccupyLekkiTollGate protest at the tollgate plaza with #DefendLagos.
The plan to #OccupyLekkiTollGate came barely one day after the ruling of the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry to reopen the Lekki Tollgate.
The panel, headed by Doris Okuwobi, a retired judge, on Saturday ruled in favour of the Lekki Concession Company, LCC, to repossess the toll plaza for repairs and insurance claims.
According to reports , the ruling was supported by five members out of the nine-man panel, with four other members, including Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and the youth representatives disagreeing.
Despite not being in favour of the ruling, the Lekki Toll Plaza has been handed over to LCC for to open again.
The tollgate has not been functioning since October 20, 2020, when soldiers opened fire on protesters, killing some and injuring several others.
Apart from the #DefendLagos hashtag the youth are also trending #DemNoBornYourPapaWell, a threat to protesters to stay away from the toll plaza.
“Let us protect what the destroyers left behind while we rebuild Lagos. Join the ‘defend Lagos’ rally at the Lekki toll plaza,” read the #DefendLagos banner shared on various social media platforms.
The banner for this counter protest also has pictures of facilities destroyed in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protest in the state.
