Agege Railway Corridor Still Plagued by Indiscriminate Waste Dumping

The Agege railway corridor in Lagos has continued to grapple with the issue of illegal dumping of refuse, despite concerted efforts by the Nigerian Railway Corporation to maintain cleanliness in the area. A recent visit to the corridor revealed massive heaps of waste, comprising plastic materials, food remnants, and other household items, scattered along the railway tracks. This development has sparked concerns among residents regarding the potential health risks, environmental pollution, and danger to railway operations. According to Oyeniran Prince, a local government official stationed near the railway corridor, the indiscriminate dumping of waste has persisted for nearly two years, with the Nigerian Railway Corporation being responsible for maintaining the area, rather than the Lagos State Waste Management Authority. Prince stated, 'This place has been in this condition for almost two years. It is not LAWMA's responsibility because this is railway property. The railway workers usually clear the tracks and pack the refuse into bags, especially where it blocks the rail lines, but people keep returning to dump waste here.' He further explained that a large waste container is located nearby, but many residents prefer to dump their refuse directly on the railway corridor, with some even burning their waste in the area. Prince noted, 'The workers clean this place almost every morning, but the dumping continues. That is the major problem.' However, another resident, Joshua Osagie, observed that the situation has improved compared to the past, with authorities intensifying efforts to discourage indiscriminate dumping. 'It has not been there for too long. They have been clearing the refuse regularly, especially the heap down there. They have warned people not to dump waste here again, and it has reduced. Before now, it was much worse than this,' Osagie said. Adewale Akinyemi, another resident, emphasized the need for residents to take responsibility for stopping the practice of dumping refuse along the railway corridor. 'The refuse along the railway corridor is becoming too much. Apart from making the place look dirty, it is also a health risk because of the smell and the flies. Even when the railway workers clear it, people come back the next day to dump refuse again. Residents also need to stop this habit, while the authorities should enforce the law,' Akinyemi said. A commuter, Grace Oladipo, noted that the situation around the Agege Pen Cinema area has improved, but the problem persists. 'The situation has improved compared to before because the heaps are no longer as much as they used to be. But the problem has not been completely solved. The government should continue monitoring the area and punish anyone caught dumping refuse on the railway tracks. That is the only way the place will remain clean,' Oladipo said. Reacting to the development, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Callistus Unyimadu, stated that the corporation regularly clears refuse from the railway corridor, but attributed the recurring dumping to passersby. Unyimadu said, 'I don't want to say anything official about this issue, but one thing I know is that anytime there is waste, we normally clear it. These things are actually being done by passersby who take the opportunity, especially at night, to dump refuse there. Each time, we make sure we clear it, but it keeps happening. I think the management is looking for a lasting solution, including involving security personnel to apprehend those responsible for dumping the refuse.'