There are growing safety concerns as some residents have turned sections of the rail tracks at the Babatunde Fashola Train Station, Agege, Lagos, into sleeping areas.

Our correspondent observed on Saturday that dozens of young boys, girls, and adult men were sleeping on portions of the rail tracks.

It was further observed that the individuals did not react when a train arrived on the adjacent track, even as it was moving with speed into the station.

Many passengers said the development, which has raised serious safety concerns along the Lagos–Ibadan standard gauge rail line, has become a recurring practice in the area.

On Friday, the former presidential candidate of the KOWA Party, Prof. Remi Sonaiya, expressed concern over the situation.

“I’m taking the train to Ibadan for the first time, boarding at Agege. My excitement was greatly dampened by the sight that greeted passengers as we approached the train — people sleeping on some of the tracks! The NRC officials say they can’t get them to leave. #Lawlessness,” she wrote on her X handle.

Her post triggered widespread reactions on the social media platform, with many users describing those on the rail tracks as “homeless.”

One user commented, “Also, not everyone there is homeless. Some have houses nearby. Some are just labourers, while some left their families due to ‘ipata,’ and others moved there in search of survival. The place used to be worse than this.”

Another user, Angle (@Yemo247), wrote: “I grew up in Agege and this has been the norm for decades. If not for the government’s intervention, they would have re-erected the market that was cleared to expand the rail tracks. It is a den for criminals and beggars who always find their way back there even after multiple arrests.”

@D_real_Nifemi added, “Actually, a train ran over one of these boys in Oshodi last December. For real, these are real conversations, and LASG just aren’t ready to do the right thing.”

G.I. Jaja (@mimijaja4us) also stated: “Being homeless doesn’t give you the right to sleep on rail tracks. You’re talking about rights when the people are not even mentally fit to distinguish right from wrong. This is a failure of safety enforcement by those who run the system.”

Odu Ake (@ComradeOduAke) argued that blaming the government for every societal problem “reflects laziness and a lack of accountability.”

He said, “Nigerians often make excuses for actions that are clearly wrong. Poverty does not justify deliberately engaging in self-destructive or unlawful behaviour. In an attempt to avoid personal responsibility, many people are quick to shift the blame entirely to the government rather than hold individuals accountable for their actions. Let me be clear: even if Nigeria became America overnight, many of these same behaviours would still persist.”

He described the issue as multi-layered.

“It includes people struggling with drug addiction, individuals who have chosen to turn public spaces into permanent residences, and criminals who exploit these areas as access points for illegal activities.

“When the government attempts to enforce zero-tolerance policies against such actions, it is often the same Nigerians who flood social media with complaints and outrage. We must understand that while governance matters, individuals also have responsibilities. The average Nigerian cannot continue to blame the government for every wrongdoing; real change begins with personal accountability.”

Responding to some of the reactions under her post, Prof. Sonaiya wrote: “I’ve seen some responses to this post. Let me reply, just this once. Being homeless doesn’t give you the right to sleep on rail tracks. You endanger yourself and other people. I hear that trains sometimes run over them; that could cause an accident. Please, we must have #Order.”

The development comes amid concerns over alleged vandalism and encroachment on rail assets in parts of the South-West.

In November 2025, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) reported a case of vandalism along the rail corridor between Agege and Agbado stations.

The corporation stated that unknown persons had tampered with critical signalling components along the corridor.

When contacted, the spokesman of the NRC, Callistus Unyimadu, did not respond to several calls from our correspondent on Sunday.

He had also not responded to a message sent to him via WhatsApp as of the time of filing this report last night. (Daily Trust)

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