INDICATIONS are rife that the ongoing expansion works being carried out by the Federal Government on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge project may claim part of the famous Tejuosho market, and the Ordinance military barracks, both in Yaba, Lagos.
Speaking to the Tribune Online exclusively, the Director in charge of demolition of encumberances along the railway Right Of Way (ROW), Engineer Anthony Onyokoko explained that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has given the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) the go-ahead to write to government properties still on the ROW.
According to him, “We have demolished all shanties in Railway ROW from Agege to Ijoko. Our problem is now in Yaba and Mushin. .
“We have the Army Ordinance Barracks that encroach into our ROW in Yaba. We also have the Lagos State Drainage System building also encroaching on our land.
“The Mushin market is also an encumbrance. This are government properties, and we couldn’t just go ahead and demolish them. We need government backing to do that.
“Now the Minister has given us the nod to write them and that we will do.
“Part of the fence of the Tejuosho market is also an encumbrance. We are going to write them as directed by the Minister before we go ahead with demolition.
“After we write them, they may decide to demolish this encumbrances themselves or we do it.
“Some structures will have to be cut into half. Even sections of the Agege -Motor road is an encumbrance.
“This are structures that have to give way for the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line.
“Hope you know the Lagos State Red Line is still going to be constructed on the same line.
“The Lagos Red Line will be on the right of our tracks while NRC standard gauge will be on the left. So if this infrastructures have to be constructed, this encumbrances will have to give way.
“Of cause you know the importance of this standard gauge construction to national development.”
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