Inside Railway
By Fidelis Ugbomeh
The Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently declared zero tolerance on trading along railway tracks especially along the Agbado to Oyingbo railway corridor.
He reiterated this fact with action as make shift counters used to trade at Agbado railway station were completely destroyed prior to his visit last week to inspect the ongoing work on the blue line project scheduled to commence operations before end of this year.
The dislodgement of traders at Agbado railway station came on the heel of burning of shanties built along railway line at Fagba and destruction of make shift counters along Oyingbo railway corridor.
The governor stated that the traders are endangering their lives by trading along the railway corridor and the government cannot allow this trend to continue.
But investigation carried out by DAILY SUN shows that traders at the aforementioned train have started to return in trickles based on connivance with some officials of the corporation.
One of the traders said that “We were not given any notice before the destruction exercise adding that government should have provided alternative before embarking on the exercise.
The railway district manager Engr. Augustine Arase said the management of the corporation is working in synergy with Lagos state government to ensure that people don’t btrade along the railway tracks.
He claimed ignorance of the fact that son staff of the corporation encourage traders to shade their goods after collecting stipends adding that any staff found wanting will be disciplined according to the law
Prior to the governors visit the chairman of Lagos task force CSP Shola Jejeloye issued warning to traders at Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Yaba amongst others that the demolition exercise will be carried out in phases but the traders seemed to be adamant.
He spoke about decadence brought about by the illegal squatters through their activities especially at Fagba, Agege and Oshodi.
“ The plan of the state government is to completely reclaim the portion of railway tracks occupied by squatters adding that enforcement takes place first followed by monitoring and sustenance “ he declared
The chairman attributed some of the criminal activities along the railway tracks to some miscreants who make use of shanties by the railway by railway tracks as hideouts to perpetuate crime.