LASG clears Red Rail line right of way

The Lagos State Government commenced the removal of settlements along the right of way of the Red Rail project.

The enforcement team, which was led by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, started the right-of-way clearance from the Lateef Jakande Station, Agbado, on the Lagos-Ogun boundary and continued through Iju to Babatunde Fashola Station, Agege and would end at Ebute Metta, Lagos.

Olumide was accompanied by the Special Adviser, e-GIS and Urban acz, Dr Olajide Babatunde; General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, 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.

Recall that the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had on Wednesday issued a two-day ultimatum to traders selling their wares on train tracks to vacate.

The enforcement team removed makeshift stalls and other structures, including the buildings of four churches, were partially demolished.

The team sealed two new church buildings under construction and marked with quit notices, while traders hurriedly removed their wares from makeshift stalls as they demolished.

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

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

The LASBCA boss insisted that the lives of residents of Lagos were more important than any business.

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

He further directed the enforcement team to ensure the complete clearance of all the illegal shanties, attachments, and other encroachments on the Red Line corridors.

Speaking on the exercise, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development said the enforcement would continue along the entire train corridor.

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

He said, “What we are doing is a clean-up of the corridor along the Red Rail Line because the train that is coming is going to be a very fast train. 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 that entire corridor.”

The Red Line Rail project is a 37-kilometre north-south rail route proposed to run from Agbado to Marina, with 13 stations.