FG, Lagos govt to jail traders selling on rail tracks

The Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi on Wednesday revealed that his Ministry in collaboration with the Lagos State Government is set.to arrest and jail traders selling on rail tracks in Lagos.

Addressing newsmen in Ibadan after his routine inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail on Wednesday, Amaechi explained that the pace at which traders are abusing the rail corridor especially in Lagos is becoming too worrisome.

According to the Minister of Transportation, “The rate at which people defaecate and display their wares on the rail tracks in Lagos is becoming worrisome. This has made the new standard gauge to look like an old track.

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“The accident that happened recently occurred because of the vehicles parked on the narrow gauge rail tracks. I was told by the experts that it takes 800metres for a train to stop when it’s at full speed. The vehicle was parked there because the occupants were waiting for the opening of the Arena shopping complex.

“So because it takes 800meters for a train to stop when at full speed, the train could not apply brakes when the driver saw the vehicle parked on the rail tracks. That was why the train rammed into the vehicles, and unfortunately, a life was lost.

“The Lagos State Governor and I have agreed that the train tracks is not a parking space nor a market, so henceforth, traders arrested selling along the train tracks will be prosecuted and jailed. We need to stop people encroaching on the rail tracks in Lagos.”

On the train stations, Amaechi said that the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has promised that by end of September, three stations will be ready for operations.

“It will be unfair to say there are no changes in the train station construction. If you see the train station at Olodo in Abeokuta, that station is almost completed. The flooring has been completed. Just doors, windows and painting that is remaining. At Kajola, what is remaining is just painting. There was a slight improvement in Ebute-Metta station too.

“The contractor has told us that by end of September, three stations will be ready. That by end of October, all the minor stations, about six or seven of them will be ready. That by end of December, the whole work will be ready excluding Apapa port.

“For Apapa, the contractor is saying it cannot be ready because they started very late, but I am insisting that Apapa should be completed alongside the rest. I have told them to set.up a task force just for Apapa alone. I will be coming to see Apapa myself by September end.”

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE