Lagos commences demolition of markets, churches along Red Rail line train stations

On Saturday, The Lagos State government commenced demolishing markets, and shanties, and reclaiming the Right of Way (RoW) of the Red Rail project corridor from Agbado, Ogun, to Ebute Metta, Lagos.

According to reports, the the enforcement team that carried out the exercise was led by the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide.

Olumide was accompanied by the Special Adviser, e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Babatunde; General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr. Gbolahan Oki and senior directors of both the agency and ministry.

LASBCA is an agency under the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

The enforcement was reported to have started from the Lateef Jakande Station, Agbado, on the Lagos-Ogun boundary and continued through Iju to Babatunde Fashola Station, Agege.

In some churches, makeshift stalls affected

All makeshift stalls along rail lines were removed; permanent structures including four new-generation churches were partially demolished and other encroachments were removed.

Two new churches under construction were sealed and marked with quit notices while traders hurriedly removed their wares from makeshift stalls as they knocked down.

Members of the demolition team sensitized traders at various locations on the danger of trading on the new train corridor.

They spoke to traders in both English and Yoruba warning of the consequences of returning to rail tracks, which included outright arrest and prosecution.

The LASBCA boss, Oki, insisted that the lives of residents of Lagos were “more important than any business,” and as such the operation must be seamless.

Oki who supervised the removal of obstructions on the RoW insisted that houses whose fences encroached on road setbacks must be removed.

Enforcement to continue

Speaking on the exercise, Olumide said the enforcement would continue along the entire train corridor.

He said the exercise would be sustained to keep the Red Rail Line project corridor safe for all Lagos residents.

Olumide advised traders and other business owners to relocate to the markets while instructing his team to inspect the corridor every Tuesday and Thursday to apprehend defaulters and charge them to court.

He said,

• “We are doing a clean up of the corridor along the Red Rail Line because the train that is coming will be very fast.
• “It is not advisable for pedestrians to be along the corridor basically for their lives. Life is much more important to the state government. And in that regard, we have to clear up all that the corridor.
• “We will continue to clean up this corridor from the beginning up till the end along the Red Line.
• “People must desist from putting up any structure along this corridor. They just must comply because their lives are more important to us.
• “Go online and check all rail stations in the world. It is not a place for people to walk, trade or carry out businesses.’’