Illegal dumping persists on Agege railway corridor despite clean-up

August 14, 2026 1:09 am

Enoch Oluwaleke, Moyinoluwa Oluyemi and Vera Alkali

Illegal dumping of refuse has persisted along sections of the railway corridor in Agege, Lagos, despite repeated efforts by the Nigerian Railway Corporation to clear the area.

A visit by PUNCH Metro to the corridor on Monday showed heaps of refuse stretching along parts of the railway tracks, with plastic waste, food remnants and other household waste littering the area.

The development has raised concerns among residents over public health, environmental pollution and the potential danger posed to railway operations.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, a local government official stationed around the railway corridor, Oyeniran Prince, said indiscriminate dumping had persisted in the area for nearly two years despite regular clearance by railway workers.

Prince said the NRC, rather than the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, was responsible for maintaining the railway corridor.

He said, “This place has been like this 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.

“There is a large waste container nearby, but instead of using it, many residents dump refuse directly on the railway corridor. Sometimes, the waste is even burnt here. Once the railway workers clear the area, people come back and dump refuse again.

“The workers clean this place almost every morning, but the dumping continues. That is the major problem.”

However, another resident, Joshua Osagie, said the situation had improved compared to what it was previously, noting that authorities had intensified 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.

“For some time, they monitored the area, and LAWMA officials also came. They no longer allow people to dump refuse here the way they used to,” he said.

Another resident, Adewale Akinyemi, said residents also had a responsibility to stop 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,” he said.

A commuter, Grace Oladipo, said the situation around the Agege Pen Cinema area had improved compared to what it used to be.

“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,” she said.

Reacting, the spokesperson for the NRC, Callistus Unyimadu, said the corporation regularly cleared refuse from the railway corridor but blamed passersby for the recurring dumping.

He 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.”

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