When the Nigeria Railway Company (NRC) determined to erect a fence to forestall intrusions alongside the rail traces, particularly at Agege Railway Station, now Babatunde Fashola Station, it appeared little consideration was given to offering handy various routes for the numerous residents affected by this choice.
The fence, which stretches from Mangoro bus cease to Nadal Petroleum Co. Ltd (previously AP Filling Station) alongside Previous Ota Street, has precipitated vital inconvenience.
The fence, although well-intentioned, has left a big inhabitants of residents from Shiaba, Adeliyi, Adeyemi, Olugbosho, Saratu, Oluremi, Abolore, and Lawal streets (close to Guinness) with out quick access to Previous Ota Street.
Previous to the fence’s building, two pedestrian bridges have been obtainable to assist residents cross the rail traces. One was close to Zenith Financial institution and the opposite near Nationwide Filling Station.
These bridges not solely facilitated handy passage but additionally offered a way of safety for these returning residence late at evening.
Residents from the higher components of Shiaba, Adeyemi, and Olugbosho streets used to cross the rail at an open entrance close to the Mobil Station, because the bridges have been too removed from their properties.
Though the NRC constructed a brand new pedestrian bridge close to Agege Principal Market after Isokoko Police Station, its location is just too far for residents of those streets to make use of commonly, particularly at evening.
The bridge can be poorly lit, leaving it darkish and unsafe for these crossing late evening. Many are left weak to hoodlum assaults.
The fence building initially included a small passage close to Mobil Station to permit residents to cross the rail line, however this was later blocked. A brand new pedestrian bridge was constructed on the finish of the fence close to Nadal Petroleum Co. Ltd, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not a viable answer for residents who used to depend on the 2 earlier picket bridges, as the brand new one is situated a lot farther away.
The prevailing pedestrian bridge, situated close to Agege Principal Market, is just not solely too far for these residents but additionally poorly illuminated, particularly at evening when it’s most wanted.
For folks returning residence late, strolling the rail line with no bridge exposes them to harmful circumstances and attainable assaults.
Residents, particularly the youths, have even resorted to climbing the excessive fence to cross the rail, a harmful apply that’s turning into more and more frequent, particularly amongst younger folks and youngsters. This case wants pressing consideration to forestall future tragedies.
In a single tragic incident, a person was discovered lifeless on the rail after being attacked by hoodlums. The elimination of the 2 makeshift pedestrian bridges and the blocking of the passage at Mobil Station has worsened the state of affairs.
Many now discover themselves in a troublesome place, particularly when crossing at evening, with little choice however to take harmful routes.
Some residents, together with a middle-aged man often known as ‘Physician,’ have expressed concern in regards to the dangers folks face owing to insufficient provisions for protected crossings.
He highlighted the shortage of correct lighting on the brand new pedestrian bridge, noting that it’s typically unlit at evening, leaving folks weak to assault.
“The federal government should be sure that pedestrian bridges are correctly lit and secured, particularly at evening, to guard those that use them,” he mentioned.
An area resident, Iyabo, additionally spoke out, emphasising that the security of residents must be the federal government’s high precedence.
“Whereas we recognize the federal government’s efforts in constructing infrastructure, the lives of the individuals who will use it must also be thought-about,” she mentioned.
Femi Johnson, one other native resident, condemned the blocking of entrances to the rail and the gap of the brand new pedestrian bridge from the communities. “The federal government ought to reinstate the bridges or no less than construct a brand new one nearer to the previous areas. The present setup is making life extra harmful for everybody,” he mentioned.
Adigun Edun, a civil servant within the space, additionally shared his frustration. He expressed concern over the inconvenience brought on by the elimination of the pedestrian bridges and the blocked entry factors.
His phrases: “The elimination of those bridges has made it a lot more durable for us to securely cross the rail, particularly at evening. We’re pleading with the federal government to construct one other pedestrian bridge, ideally between Zenith Financial institution and Nationwide Filling Station.”
When contacted, NRC’s Lagos Regional Director, Augustine Arisa, requested a video of the realm in query to evaluate the state of affairs and decide the following steps.
He assured that as a brief answer, the police would be told to extend surveillance within the space. He additionally talked about that police had already been deployed to observe different harmful factors within the area up to now and had made arrests.
