Sanity has gradually returned into the rail corridor at Agege area of Lagos State. This occurred after the Lagos State Task Force cleared the rail tracks and brought the occupation of squatters, traders and scavengers who took over a section of Babatunde Raji Fashola Train Station to an end.
The clearance operation took place on July 23 exactly a week after Sunday Tribune reported on the degradation of the surroundings of the rail station. The report was published on July 16.
A statement by the Director, Press and Public Affairs, Lagos State Task Force, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, said the exercise was designed to restore sanity along the railway corridors of the state.
The statement noted that the exercise was orchestrated by the Chairman of the agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye, who disclosed that the exercise was necessary to save lives and property and also to foster safety and security along the rail tracks in the state.
Jejeloye said that the exercise was to discourage certain individuals from conducting business on the rail tracks and prevent them from placing impediments which hinder the smooth movement of trains on the tracks.
Jejeloye was quoted to have said: “The activities of these traders are defacing the outlook of the rail tracks by setting up these slums and makeshift buildings here, but we will make sure that we leave no form of environmental crimes unchecked.”
He further stated that operations across rail tracks in the state would last for a month in order to discourage the traders from returning to the rail tracks.
“We have made an irreversible decision to carry out operations and remain here to discourage them from returning. This singular operation is just a tip of the iceberg but the major activities are coming up in the coming weeks,” he added.
He assured residents of the state that the agency would maintain the exercise in order to restore sanity and environmental decorum on the rail tracks till the desired results are achieved.
He further urged residents of the state to curb all acts that cause environmental infractions which could impede the realisation of a safe, serene and habitable environment for all.
When Sunday Tribune visited the area on Wednesday, it was observed that trading activities were no longer going on as usual on the rail tracks.
It was, however, observed that beggars and squatters were seen hanging around the rail corridor as some slept on the stairs and walkways of the train station.
Some security personnel drafted to the corridor were also seen patrolling the area. All efforts made to speak with them were not successful.
But a source told Sunday Tribune that the officers were drafted to the area to ensure peace and also to prevent hawkers and traders from returning to the area.
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