Taskforce moves against traders near railway tracks in Lagos

 

By Emmanuel Udom

 

CSP Shola Jejeloye, a chief superintendent of police and chairman, Lagos state taskforce-Nigeria, has made known to the public, the intention of his agency to ensuring the safety and well-being of Lagosians.

 

Jejeloye said the moves is also aim at  entrenching sanity and orderliness across the metropolis by clearing of railway tracks across the state and rid the tracks of traders who constantly display their wares  to the  detriment of their safety and that of other passengers along the track. 

 

Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, director, press & public affairs for the agency quoted his boss as saying that “it was high time the taskforce took proactive steps in forestalling any avoidable accidents along the railway corridors that could lead to loss of lives and property”. 

 

Jejeloye decried the non challant manner in which street traders and road side sellers flagrantly display their goods along the railway corridors thereby risking their lives and that of the passengers on trains who are greatly affected in the event of a derailment as a result of the obstacles placed on the tracks by these traders. 

 

“It is high time we put a stop to these selfish actions by roadside sellers who display their goods right on the rail tracks. It is dangerous, unsafe and unnecessary due to the fact that some of these obstacles obstruct the smooth movement of trains along those corridors could ultimately lead to derailment. We frown at it completely and we will put an end to it in the coming days”

 

The taskforce chairman further sounded a note of warning to those who are in the habit of carrying out acts that could lead to accidents across the rail tracks to be weary of their actions as it could lead to arrest and prosecution. He made mention of the train accident experienced a few weeks ago in Lagos and vowed to do all it takes to prevent any further occurrences of such in the future. 

 

“Accidents don’t just happen; they are caused by one or two errors that could have been avoided. The rail accident that occurred around PWD bus-stop along Lagos-Abeokuta expressway  was avoidable but unfortunately, it led to loss of lives. This is the reason we have taken it upon ourselves to ensure that such does not repeat itself. We will prosecute anyone without any legitimate business on the rail tracks henceforth”