** Train is the fastest and safest way to journey through the “traffic infested” Lagos roads.

** As Lagos, NRC strategise over menace


IT is a general knowledge that some train passengers from various Lagos terminus through Ikeja, particularly, hang on train cabins to avoid payment of fares. Few unlucky ones had lost their lives in the process while the lucky ones either sustain injuries or got maimed.

There is the fable of a highly placed, chauffeur driven Lagos resident who on sighting the hikers asked his driver “whether those people (passengers) were trying to commit suicide”.

Apparently, the reason is not far fetched, because in a civilized society it is an anathema for people to act in such a manner. Most hikers are residents of neibouring Ogun State who earn their living in the megacity, and on their way home after work board the passenger train.

Indigenous online media
In a survey conducted by an indigenous Online Media, it was revealed that most passengers who hang on trains are peasants, who go as far as Lagos Island on daily basis. They engage in petty trading and menial jobs.

Move to end menace: Determined to stop this trend, the state government, in collaboration with the management of Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, has concluded plans to put an end to the act.
Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, who spoke after a brief meeting with the management of NRC, led by its Managing Director, Engineer Adeseyi Sijuwade, in Alausa, said the partnership would also tackle all issues that posed security challenges along the various rail routes through a special task force to be set up to ensure success of the exercise.

He listed the challenges to include, incessant hanging of passengers on the train, street trading and encroachment by members of road transport workers on the rail line.

He said: “We have been fully briefed and you need to appreciate the fact that we don’t want people hanging on the train. We have also learnt from the rail way Police Command that these people that hang on the train are tough and they also avoid arrest.”

Opeifa said the government was also mindful of how the railway police carry out enforcement to avoid fatalities, stressing that all the stakeholders involved would be mobilised to ensure that the menace is stopped headlong.

Prescribed punishment: It will be recalled that the state Special Offences Court, sometime last year, sentenced 10 people to 10 hours of community service for hanging on coaches of the Mass Transit Train Service.

In her judgment, the Magistrate, Mrs. I. O Omotosho, said the community service would be determined by the Lagos State Community Services Department.

The magistrate said she was lenient with the convicts because they had spent one week in custody since their arrest at Ikeja Train Station. “I hope this will serve as a deterrent to others,” she said.
The men faced a three-count charge of obstruction of justice, breach of peace and assaulting some policemen. The prosecutor, Mr Tunde Sunmonu, had told the court that the convicts “rowdily hung on a train in motion and endangered their lives and those of others.

“When Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP,Idris Muritala and Corporal. Azeez tried to arrest them, they assaulted them and injured the corporal,” he said.
Sunmonu said the offences contravened Section 27 of the Lagos State Environmental Law 2003 and166 (2) and Section 171 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2011.

Provision of alternatives
According to a passenger at Iddo, Lagos terminus, Munirat Adeosun, “If the government stops us from climbing train, I expect the same government to providealternative or make more trains available at affordable fare for the masses.

“It is not even comfortable for anyone to hang on train neither is it safe, for the good of the society, I want to appeal to Governor Babatunde Fashola, to come on top of the situation and salvage the people from abject poverty.” She appealed.

At Ikeja, rail station, Olaiya Olorunesan, said that train is the fastest and safest way to journey through the “traffic infested” Lagos roads. “If the government does not want people to hang, the solution is that of making more trains available for the masses of this country. I know that the proposed legislation is for the good and safety of the people but the government knows what to do.” He stated.

The state Taskforce on Special Offences and Environment, Chairman, Chief Superintendent o Police, Bayo Sulaiman, said the state government had declared zero tolerance for hanging on trains.

He said, “The taskforce will continue to monitor train movements in the state and anyone caught hanging on trains would be arrested.

“Hanging on trains constitutes environmental nuisance, which must not be allowed to go on unchallenged in a mega city like Lagos. The taskforce will continue its raid on train hikers until further notice.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/06/train-hitch-hikers-still-reign-supreme/

"At Ikeja, rail station, Olaiya Olorunesan, said that train is the fastest and safest way to journey through the “traffic infested” Lagos roads"- Vanguard

“Hanging on trains constitutes environmental nuisance, which must not be allowed to go on unchallenged in a mega city like Lagos. The taskforce will continue its raid on train hikers until further notice.”

The sooner the government implements their plans, the better.
I'm still awed by the sheer audacity of some of these hikers. One even ran along the roof the other day as the train was slowing to a stop at Ikeja-along bus stop. If they are not scared of loosing their lives, their behaviour is a nuisance, an indictment against any claims of the civility by the average Nigerian Lagosian. Its any eyesore. I should try to get some pictures.