Sanwo-Olu has now directed the State’s Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, to open an investigation into the incident.

Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, disclosed this at a joint briefing by the state government and the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) in Lagos on Monday.

Omotosho insisted that Sanwo-Olu’s administration would never trample on the rights of residents.

Also, the Managing Director of Lekki Concession Company (LCC), Yomi Omomuwasan, spoke on alleged use of the firm’s operational vehicle to convey protesters at the tollgate.

Omomuwasan explained that the vehicle was donated to the police to assist them as a logistical support.

He also said the request to reopen the tollgate from the judicial panel of inquiry, was because the firm needs to carry out an assessment of valuables that were lost to the October 20, 2020 violent protest with the aim of getting the necessary insurance cover.

Omomuwasan insisted the reopening was not to immediately start tolling on the facilities.

The MD of the LCC also stressed that an estimated N2.5bn worth of assets were lost during the protest.

“As of 2011, we had N24 billion owned by local lenders and N49 billion borrowed from the International Development Bank.

“We need to bring a formal report of assessment of the damage back to our lenders because when you don’t pay, you are blacklisted. The claims could be verified. Assets would require a team of engineers both within and outside to do critical assessments.

“We need to do civil and electrical works, which cannot be completed within three months,” Omomuwasan added.

The government gave this warning ahead of the #OccupyLekkiTollGate protest planned to kick against the reopening of  Lekki Toll Gate.

Recall that  Nigerians on social media had earlier threatened to hold a fresh protest at the Lekki tollgate following plans to reopen it for operations by the Lagos State Judicial Panel.

Using various hashtags including #RevolutionNow and #OccupyLekkiTollGate, on social media, the posters plan to occupy the tollgate on Saturday, February 13, 2021.

The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed issued this warning in Abuja on Thursday while addressing journalists.

While stating that every Nigerian has the freedom to protest, the Minister warned that violence in the name of protests will not be condoned.

Mohammed said based on Intelligence there are high chances that the protest which is planned to take place on February 13, 2021, at the Lekki Toll Gate will be hijacked by hoodlums.

“Some #EndSARS proponents have given notice of their plan to return to Lekki Tollgate. They want to return there on Saturday, February 13, this year.

“The #OccupyLekkiTollgate flyers have been circulating online with the proponents threatening that Lagos will burn again.

“Let me be clear, while peaceful protests are constitutional rights of Nigerians, violent protests are not.

“At this time, the chances that any peaceful protest will be hijacked are very high. Any resort to violence in the name of #EndSARS will not be tolerated this time,” the Minister said.

He also noted that the government is watching the roles being played by social media platforms on the planned protest and that security agencies have been placed on red alert to stop the violence.

“We therefore strongly warn those who are planning to re-occupy Lekki Toll Gate on Saturday to desist.

“We know that many of those who have been loudest on social media in advertising the plan to reconvene in Lagos on Saturday are not even in Nigeria. They are elsewhere around the world fanning the embers of violence and inciting gullible people back home. No one should fall for their antics,” he added.