Tension mounts over Epe/Ijebu-Ode toll as May 31 protest looms

Frustration is growing across border communities in Lagos and Ogun States following the sudden introduction of toll charges on the Ijebu-Ode–Mojoda–Epe Road by the Ogun State Government.

Stakeholders from Lagos Epe Division have expressed strong opposition to the policy, citing economic hardship, lack of transparency, and continued silence from Ogun authorities despite earlier consultations.

The affected corridor covers from the Fari Expressway in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, to Mojoda, a junction that links directly to Epe in Lagos.

While the Lagos portion of the road, from Epe to Mojoda, was rehabilitated during the administration of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the Ogun section, stretching 14.7 kilometers from Mojoda to Ijebu-Ode, was completed under Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Without prior notice or public engagement, the Ogun State Government began tolling its section of the road, triggering widespread criticism.

The rates: N1,000 for cars and standard buses, N1,500 for mini buses, and N2,500 for trucks and trailers, have been described by commuters and residents as excessive and burdensome.

The discontent reached a boiling point on April 30, 2025, when a stakeholders’ meeting held at Rolak Hotel in Ijebu-Ode brought together civil society groups under the Coalition of Epe Division Groups and other concerned delegations.

A formal communique was submitted to Ogun officials at the meeting, articulating strong opposition to the toll charges and calling for reconsideration.

Representatives of the Ogun State Government requested one week to deliberate and issue a response.

Nearly a month later, no feedback has been provided.

“The Ogun State Government pleaded for time, but several weeks have passed and nothing has been heard. The continued silence is both disappointing and disrespectful,” a spokesperson for the coalition said, expressing growing frustration over the lack of engagement from state authorities.

In response to the deadlock, civil society organisations and community leaders have announced plans for a peaceful protest scheduled for Saturday, May 31, 2025.

Protesters are expected to gather at Mojoda Garage, a symbolic location at the boundary between Ogun and Lagos, to demand fairness, transparency, and community inclusion in infrastructure-related decisions.

Multiple efforts to obtain a response from the Ogun State Government have so far yielded no results, with officials remaining unreachable at the time of reporting.