Days after an attack by terrorists on a Kaduna-Abuja train, a group concerned about the safety and unimpeded passage of trains has warned against encroachment of railway setbacks in Osun state.
The group which noted that erecting permanent structures on railway setbacks was dangerous, said allowing such encroachments would be counterproductive.
The group under the aegis of Osun Coalition of Muslims for Justice made the assertion during a peaceful protest at the Oke-Onitea area of Osogbo on Tuesday.
Spokesman of the group, Quasim Odedeji, alleged that certain unscrupulous officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had finalised plans to allocate a railway setback between Km 295 +5-6 poles, GB-DLG section, Bushrah side, Osogbo to land speculators.
According to Odedeji, the Bushrah Mosque Muslim community had used the space as Eid prayer ground since 2015 with permission granted by the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
He added that knowing the importance of setbacks to railway movement, the religious community had abided by the condition of not erecting any structure on the land.
He said the community became alarmed when land speculators began offloading bricks on the setback with a view to erecting a structure, hence the warning.
However, the Area Manager of Railway Property Management Company Limited (RPMCL), Innocent Agbaji, countered the claim, saying the Agency revoked the permission granted to the religious community because of threat to the lives of staff of Nigerian Railway Corporation in the area.
An official letter dated 22nd February, 2022, signed by Agbaji and addressed to one Lateef Oriade, which our correspondent obtained, noted that the community had incessantly harassed NRC staff and asked it to vacate the setback.
“It is in light of the above that I am directive to notify you of a six (6) Months Revocation Notice from the date of this letter. Therefore, you are requested to make the land free of debris/remove any temporary attachment to the land”, the letter read in part.
Dominica Nwabufo
