The Ikeja Local Government has issued an official rebuttal to allegations by Rufai Oseni of Arise TV concerning the alleged “unauthorised installation of an iron gate” on the pedestrian bridge across the railway corridor at Ikeja Along, opposite Ajayi Farm Bus Stop, Lagos.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman, Mr. Olalekan Oni, the council described the claim as inaccurate and misleading, stating that the infrastructure in question is owned by the Lagos State Government, not the Nigerian Railway Corporation or the Federal Government as alleged.
The statement clarified that the installation of the gate followed a stakeholders’ engagement involving the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), representatives of the affected community and the Local Government Council. The meeting, it said, was convened in response to security concerns after sections of the railway corridor were cordoned off.
According to the council, the corridor has for years been plagued by criminal activities including robbery, pickpocketing, rape and vandalism, with residents and commuters bearing the brunt.
It further recalled that the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Abiodun Faleke, facilitated the installation of 20 solar-powered streetlights along the corridor within the past year to improve security. However, the council noted that the lights were vandalised and completely removed within three months, underscoring the scale of the security challenge.
The local government maintained that the gate was installed strictly as a security measure to safeguard lives and property, in line with its constitutional responsibilities, and not as an arbitrary or unlawful action.
While urging adherence to professional standards of journalism, the council called for proper verification from relevant stakeholders before the dissemination of what it described as speculative narratives.
It reaffirmed that the safety and welfare of Ikeja residents remain paramount and that all interventions undertaken are guided by law, stakeholder consultation and the overarching objective of protecting lives and property.
The statement was dated February 27, 2026.
