The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has attributed the success of delivery of the Blue Line rail system in the State to Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu.
Governor Sanwo who was feasibly elated gave this indication in Lagos during the inaugural train ride to activate official commercial operations of the Blue Line Rail Mass Transit.
Dear Lagosians,
We began commercial operations for the long-awaited Blue Line Rail from Marina to Mile 2 as we put #LagosOnTrack together.
With a starting 50% discount on all public transport fares with the Cowry Card, we are ensuring that Lagosians can move freely in pursuit… pic.twitter.com/bPGizWounU
— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) September 4, 2023
The Governor boarded the train at about 9.07 am, at the iconic Marina Station inward to Mile 2 station in Amuwo Odofin axis of the State.
The Governor said that President Tinubu hatched the transportation plans of the State during his time as the Governor of Lagos, from rail, waterways, and road infrastructure, stressing that the template has been working for the State.
“Let me commend everyone who has kept faith with us. It is important that we also acknowledge the great work of our President, Bola Tinubu, the first governor of Lagos State, who started the vision of the Lagos State Urban Mass Transportation System with the creation of LAMATA in 2003/2004, that masterplan has led us to this point today.
“It was from that master plan that we are all involved to have a train master plan infrastructure, the road master plan infrastructure, and all of the deliverables that we are seeing today. So we need to thank him and we need to acknowledge all the great works he has done in Lagos. God will give him the opportunity to also do it bigger for Nigeria,” he said.
Train Manager
Governor Sanwo-Olu who was the train manager, boarded from the first coach and walked through the seventh coach where he addressed over 800 passengers on the needed information on the train before he later addressed the journalists.
He said: “When we put our heart into ensuring that we give the very best in our environment, we can get it right. So, I am extremely excited about the work that LAMATA and all other stakeholders have done to ensure we keep to our commitment to serve this operation on September 4.
“I was head of the train operators to ensure people’s safety and security throughout the journey, how passengers need to embark and disembark, how to keep with the safety and security tips of the train, among others.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu also promised that the Red Line would be ready before the year ends.
I couldn’t hold my excitement while talking about the upcoming Red Line Rail as we unveiled the Blue Line Rail today knowing we are are making critical strides in fully putting #LagosOnTrack.
The Red Line Rail will be completed before the end of the year. The red line is one of… pic.twitter.com/16xXTAiKm9
— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) September 4, 2023
According to him, “The red line is about 95-96 per cent complete, but we won’t open if it’s not 100 per cent ready. We are however certain it will be ready before the year ends.
“By the end of September, we will start opening our bridges – Ikeja Along, Yaba, Ebute Metta, Mushin, and others. They will be open to vehicular movement. I hope Mr President will do us the honours of opening the bridges. And I can assure you the Red Line will be bigger than the Blue Line,” he added.
Nice initiative
State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Cornelius Ojelabi described the project as a welcome development, a nice initiative and a clever way of reducing traffic on our roads.
He said: “I urge Lagosians to take ownership of this project. It is their project. It is the money the government has invested in making life more pleasant for them. They should also patronise this service so there can be enough resources to maintain it and it can serve us for a long time.”
among other top government officials.
Train operations
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo said from tomorrow, Tuesday, September 5, partial passenger operations will start from 6:30 am to 10 am, for Morning Peak; and Afternoon Peak, from 4 pm to 9:30 pm.
These operations, according to Akinajo, will start with 12 trips for two weeks, which will later be increased to 76 trips per day.
The journey is about 17 to 20 minutes, with 90secs stop at each station before the final destination
Some of the passengers at the train stations commended the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led government for the laudable project, saying the Blue Line rail is a relief for residents.
The Blue Line Rail project is constructed by the Lagos State Government and supervised by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), as part of the development and improved intermodal transport system in the state.
The rail line project started during the administration of former Governor Babatunde Fashola but the first phase – 13km (Marina to Mile 2) on the Lagos-Badagry corridor was completed by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
The Blue Line Rail was commissioned in January 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
