The Railway Property Management Company has taken action against over 20 businesses operating illegally at the Kaduna railway station.
A task force swept in to enforce the rules, locking up shops that had no legitimate authorization.
By noon, over 20 shops had been sealed, their doors padlocked, and their owners were left bewildered.
For Sola Falola, who had been operating his shop since 2016, the task force’s action came as a shock. He had filled out all the necessary paperwork, or so he thought. Now, he stood outside his sealed shop, unsure of what to do next.
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Timothy Zalanga, the Managing Director of the Railway Property Management Company Limited, defended the operation. He explained that these businesses were occupying railway property without proper authorization, thereby violating the corporation’s regulations.
The move sparked concern among the business community at the station. Eric Osademe, chairman of the Railway Millers’ Association Kaduna South, wants government to have a rethink.
Despite the upheaval, the Railway Property Management Company has a broader vision. It plans to clear out the shanties and remodel the station’s premises to create a more organised and safer environment for legitimate businesses.
(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
