.jpeg "Lagos government starts removing shanties and obstacles from the Red Rail Line project.")
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the team responsible for enforcement was headed by Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development.
Olumide was attended by Dr. Olajide Babatunde, the Special Adviser for e-GIS and Urban Development, Mr. Gbolahan Oki, the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), and top directors from both the agency and ministry.
The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) operates as a regulatory body within the jurisdiction of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
According to NAN, the implementation of the enforcement measures first at the Lateef Jakande Station, Agbado, situated on the boundary between Lagos and Ogun states. The enforcement efforts then proceeded from Iju to the Babatunde Fashola Station, located in Agege.
The removal of all temporary stalls situated over rail lines, as well as the partial demolition of permanent structures such as four new generation churches, and the elimination of additional encroachments were undertaken.
Two recently initiated ecclesiastical structures were officially closed and designated with eviction notices, while merchants hastily evacuated their merchandise from temporary stands as they were dismantled.
The demolition team took the initiative to raise awareness among traders at multiple places about the potential hazards associated with conducting business activities within the newly established train route.
The individuals engaged in conversations with traders, employing both the English and Yoruba languages, to caution them about the potential repercussions of trespassing on railway tracks. These consequences encompassed the possibility of being apprehended and subjected to legal proceedings.
The director of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr. Oki, emphasized the prioritization of the well-being of Lagos citizens over commercial interests, hence emphasizing the need for a smooth and efficient operation.
The individual responsible for overseeing the clearance of obstacles along the Right of Way (RoW) maintained a firm stance on the necessity of removing houses with fences that encroached against road setbacks.
Regarding the exercise, Olumide emphasized that the enforcement would persist across the entirety of the train corridor.
According to his statement, the effort is intended to ensure the continuous safety of the Red Rail Line project corridor for all inhabitants of Lagos.
Olumide provided guidance to merchants and other business proprietors, urging them to consider relocating their operations to the markets. Additionally, he directed his staff to conduct regular inspections of the corridor on Tuesdays and Thursdays with the objective of apprehending individuals who fail to comply with the regulations, thereafter initiating legal proceedings against them.
The purpose of our current endeavor is to conduct a thorough cleansing of the corridor adjacent to the Red Rail Line, as a high-speed train is scheduled to traverse this route in the near future.
It is not recommended for pedestrians to traverse the corridor due to potential risks to their personal safety and well-being. The state government places a higher level of significance on the value of life. In this regard, it is necessary to address and resolve all issues pertaining to the corridor.
Our efforts to maintain cleanliness along the Red Line route will persist from its inception to its conclusion.
It is imperative that individuals refrain from erecting any form of infrastructure within this designated region. The imperative for compliance arises from the significance we attribute to their lives.
Please conduct an online search to access information regarding all railway stations worldwide. According to his statement, the area in question does not serve as a pedestrian thoroughfare, a commercial hub, or a site for conducting business activities.
The proposed Red Line Rail project encompasses a 37-kilometer North-South rail track, spanning from Agbado to Marina, and includes a total of 13 stations.
The stations include Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Murtala Muhammad International Airport, the Domestic Airport, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, Ebute Meta, Iddo, Ebute Ero, and Marina.