In a bid to maintain safety on railroads the Lagos State Government has began what it called “Operation all illegal traders must leave rail tracks in Lagos” . This operation involves confiscation of wares being sold on the rail lines.
Mr Adebayo Taofiq, the Head, Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Task Force made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Taofiq disclosed that the operation commenced at Ikeja rail track adding that, different types of goods ranging from used clothing popularly called ‘Okirika clothes’, shoes, belts, fairly used electronics and gas cylinders were confiscated.
It was however gathered that the Task Force had on Sunday warned traders and other persons doing businesses on rail lines in the state to leave or face arrest and prosecution.
He however disclosed that the Monday operation was carried out as a follow-up to the earlier warning to traders to vacate the tracks, noting that no arrest was made during the operation, as the traders ran away leaving their goods when they saw the task force operatives.
“It will no longer be business as usual until a zero tolerance on this is maintained. The government has reiterated and warned council officials and market leaders against collection of money from such illegality.
“Anybody caught collecting illegal fees from these illegal traders on rail lines across the state would be seriously dealt with in accordance with the law,” he said.
Meanwhile the task force chairman, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, explained that convergence of illegal traders selling and buying goods around rail lines was suicidal and an eye-sore in different parts of the state, adding that, many lives had been lost to the illegal rail track trading.
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