263 Properties to Be Demolished in Lagos as Sanwo-Olu Inaugurates New Rail Project
- Governor Sanwo-Olu has kicked off a new rail project in Lagos to improve the state's transportation system
- The project will reportedly lead to the demolition of at least 263 properties
- Nevertheless, the state government said it has compensated the owners of the affected properties
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The new rail project embarked upon by the Lagos state government, a 37-km Rail Mass Transit Red Line, will affect no fewer than 263 properties, The Punch has reported.
The newspaper, however, stated that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has presented cheques of varying amounts as compensation to the owners of the affected properties.
Source: Twitter
Legit.ng gathers that this was contained in a statement released by Sanwo-Olu's chief press secretary, Gboyega Akosile, on Thursday, April 15.
Flagging off the project's construction, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the rail line which will traverse from Agbado to Marina, is expected to move more than one million commuters daily.
According to him, the rail corridor will be constructed in three phases.
The statement reads in part:
“The first phase (Agbado-Iddo), which will be completed in 24 months, will be sharing track with the Federal Government’s Lagos-Ibadan Railway Modernisation Project up to Ebute – Metta.
“It will have its dedicated track from Ebute – Metta to Oyingbo and reduce travel time from about two and a half hours to just 35 minutes. The passenger capacity of the first phase is 500,000 daily."
The rail line is expected to become operational by the last quarter of 2022, Channels TV also reported.
Nigerians react
Bernard Thompson commented on the compensation:
"It should not stop at doling out cheques to those to be impacted by the project the government should go a step further to ensure that the cheques are not pocketed and at the end the government will use force to evacuate the recipients of the cheques because Nigerians don't know how to respect agreements with government.
"The timeline to evacuate the buildings for demolition to follow should be religiously observed without parties rushing to the law courts for injunctive reliefs."
Adeladan Remi Shuaib said:
"Great, Sir! But Instead of a new project, can't you finish the one started by your predecessor (Mr Fashola) which remained uncompleted for about 6 years now!
"Perharps, we should also start thinking of trans City underground train now to avoid wastage of tax payers funds as Lagos is geometrically growing in population and economic activities."
George Sol'Manuel Zino said:
"Lagos State is surely going to be littered with abandoned projects if this trend is allowed to continue, the Gov should instead concentrate on completing the ones started by his predecessors before starting new ones."
Odole Aina Titilayo said:
"Only in Nigeria, there are trains route and stations at residence in Abroad, nothing hazardous to them, why you have to demolish homes i dnt get"
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Meanwhile, in a bid to enable the construction of Ikeja Overpass for the red line project of the Lagos rail mass transit, the state has announced that it will be diverting traffic on Adegbola Street from Sunday, April 11, for one year and three months.
This was disclosed on Thursday, April 8, by the state's commissioner for transportation, Frederic Oladeinde, who explained that the diversion was intended to prevent accidents by motorists and pedestrians during the period.
Oladeinde added that motorists from Computer Village and Simbiat Abiola Way heading towards Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway will be diverted to Akinremi street to connect Oshifila Street so as to go through the rail level crossing.
Source: Legit.ng
