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Demolition for Lagos-Ibadan rail line begins without compensation

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Demolition for Lagos-Ibadan rail line begins without compensation

A special task force of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Monday commenced pulling down of structures already marked from the Lagos end of the rail guage, with the property owners claiming they were yet to be paid the agreed compensation.

The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, had while flagging off the project pledged that the project, regarded as the major contract to be handled by a Chinese firm, CCECC, is to be jointly funded by the two countries.

It was estimated that about 15 per cent of the the N72 billion bill for the project, amounting to about N 20.5 billion would go for compensation to properties’ owners.

The task force said it was beginning from illegal structures from Yaba up to Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Iju-Ishaga, Agbado, among others.

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Reports say tears flew through out the Easter holiday as the NRC task force pulled down a number of the marked structures, aided by some security operatives.

Among the structures to go in the first move of removal of illegal structures, included five churches, three mosques and two preparatory schools, while offices and residential houses will be affected in the second stage, according to the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).

The standard gauge rail line, which the Export-Import Bank of China has put in about $1.275bn (about N408bn), through loan on behalf of the Chinese government is planned to be completed in 2018.

But a senior lawyer with the Idowu Chambers, Richmond Ajayi, said destruction of properties for any purpose without adequate compensation is illegal.

“Irrespective of whether it is the Federal Government or state governments, agreed compensation should be paid to owners of any structure that is given approval to be set up before tampering with them, otherwise, aggrieved persons may go to court to challenge such action, ” the lawyer stated in a chat.

But justifying the action, the Corporation’s chief executive officer, Mr. Fidet Okhiria, told newsmen that all structures being pulled down were illegally built on NRC’s lands without approval from any authorities.

“We are a law abiding corporate body and as such must ensure that nobody is subjected to inhuman treatment in the course of having the ultra-modern rail project in place”, the CEO stated.

He declined comments on the actual cost paid properties owners.

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