By Iwakun Oyeniyi
Residents might experience more hardship with hundreds displaced as a result of the ongoing rail track upgrade exercise by the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) in Lagos as many illegal structures erected around the rail tracks were removed.
The demolition which saw many of the illegal structures worth millions of naira used as shops, religious houses and shelter built along rail tracks from Apapa en route Ijora to Yaba and others destroyed on Tuesday 7th, November, 2017 has rendered many homeless.
The rail line environment has served as the major economic base of the residents of the area most who have taken refuge there for a long period of time and relied on proceeds from sales there for survival.
MMS Plus who was at scene saw affected residents in hundreds as they struggled to remove their properties from the kiosks and huts before the NRC bulldozer clears them off.
Also at the scene were NRC task force officials, armed police officers and few military men who were on ground to avoid any forms of attack or break down of law and order by anyone.
Speaking with MMS Plus, the NRC team leader, Mr. Olatunji, mechanical department who was on ground to monitor the exercise said the decision was from the federal government through the NRC in order to give room for the tracks expansion.
“we have been notifying them to leave this place since about a year ago and nobody authorized them to occupy here in the first place. But you know how Lagos people operate. They believe it is no man’s land, so anybody can use it. We also appealed to them early this year to leave because NRC project is for the benefit of everyone. It is a development project that we must all support.” he said
Mr. Olatunji also explained that the project would enhance easy transit from Apapa to Ibadan as he advocated support for the incumbent leadership of the country for such laudable project.
“The standard guage project has started, the only delay had been this people occupying this place. The Chinese company is here and set to do the job but we have to clear this area so that the work can go smoothly. We started the first phase from Apapa and would stop in Yaba but the second phase will start from Yaba to ijokku. NRC is doing the clearing because if the Chinese do it themselves, they will be attacked.” he said
Meanwhile, some affected occupants who spoke with MMS Plus called on the government for rescue as they are left helpless and do not have any other source of living.
“we feel very sad but it is government’s land and there is nothing we can do. Although we have been informed since last year but we have nowhere to go and that’s why you see everybody hanging around. A lot of people will be seriously affected because aside selling goods, many people also live here.” one of the affected occupants who identified himself as Comrade Lateef Mobolaji said.
The chairman of the residents, Alhaji Muhammadu Bisari, who claimed to have spent over forty five (45) years there described the situation as unfortunate but was optimismstic that after the whole construction exercise they would be able to return to the place. He however appealed to government and NRC management to find an alternative location for them.
“I have been here since 1973 and we were the one who started helping NRC with maintenance of the environment. Prior our arrival they pay labourers to cut the grasses but ever since we came, we began to do it ourselves. Now that they say, they need their land, there is nothing we can do.” he said
While giving clarifications on the development, the NRC Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mr. Mahmoud Yakubu told MMS Plus that shanties constructed on the railway right of way were demolished to pave way for work to begin on standard guage.
“They are there illegally and if they have any document indicating that they are legally there, they should show it to you. If you are conversant with what is happening now, we want to expand that rail line with the new standard gauge from Ibadan to Apapa port. That would aid easy movement of goods and services with an advanced railway system. They have been given notice since March this year.” The PRO said
When questioned on the possibility of allowing them return after the standard guage must have been completed, he said it is a relative question because nobody authorized them be occupy the place initially.
