Remi Sonaiya spotted desperate homeless Nigerians sleeping directly on the live Lagos-Ibadan railway tracks at Agege station during her first train ride to Ibadan.
The former presidential candidate shared shocking photos Thursday showing several individuals wrapped in blankets with their belongings scattered across the rails.
Nigerian Railway Corporation officials told her they could not force the encroachers to leave.
Sonaiya immediately raised the alarm on social media, warning that the situation threatens catastrophic accidents.
Trains have struck people in similar encroachments before along this corridor.
This incident exposes the harsh reality many face in Lagos.
Rapid urban growth, skyrocketing rents, and limited social support drive vulnerable residents—including migrants from rural areas—to extreme measures for shelter.
Public reactions flooded in quickly. One observer commented, “Life failed them, Nigeria also failed them.”
Another stressed prevention over enforcement alone to avert disaster.
Witnesses describe Agege station as chaotic.
Men openly use drugs near passengers, while railway police appear absent or ineffective.
The scene highlights deeper failures: inadequate housing policies, weak urban planning, and insufficient outreach for the homeless.
Authorities must act urgently.
Stronger security, combined with genuine humanitarian aid—shelters, job programs, and relocation support—can protect lives and restore safety on the rail line.
Until then, every approaching train carries the risk of tragedy for those with nowhere else to sleep.
