*Red Line for completion early 2023
*Will move 500,000 passengers Daily
By; MATTHEW UKACHUNWA, Lagos
Lagos State Blue Line Rail Mass Transit system will begin passenger operations by the end of the first quarter of year 2023, while the construction of the Red Line Rail will be completed early this year.
Engr. Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), dropped the hint while giving an account of how the Blue Line Rail was executed.
“We promised that our team in LAMATA and the contractor shall deliver this project by the last quarter of this year in order for testing and commissioning in the first week of January 2023, with a view starting passenger operations by the end of the first quarter of 2023.
“I can boldly say we have delivered. Just as we have delivered this, we also promise to deliver the Red Line early in 2023,” the LAMATA manager emphasized.
According to her, the substantial completion of civil infrastructure for the first phase of Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT)
Blue Line rail is the manifestation of the audacious mind and the spirit of courage of the governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his team in the State Executive Council.
She explained that the Blue Line is one of the six rail lines and articulated in the Lagos State Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP).
“The STMP is the brainchild of our Governor Emeritus and by the grace of God, the next President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His successor, the current Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, CON, SAN, began the implementation as Governor of Lagos State in 2010 and for eight years, the state government under his watch funded the construction of the rail project from internally generated revenue.
“This is unprecedented in the history of rail construction anywhere in the world,” Akinajo said.
She pointed out that the implementation continued howbeit slowly until governor Sanwo-Olu mounted the saddle.
“He metaphorically breathe a new breath of life in the rail project.
“He sees transportation as one giant component for any economy to thrive, hence it is the first pillar of the THEMES development agenda for Lagos. This speaks to the importance this administration places on Traffic Management and Transportation,” Akinajo stressed.
She disclosed that to bring the Blue Line, a 27-kilometre rail route from Marina to Okokomaiko, to its present stage, Sanwo-Olu had to use a window of funding by the Central Bank of Nigeria, which pooled three banks, namely: Access Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc and Sterling Bank Plc together to fund the completion of infrastructure for the first phase, which is about 13-kilometre of the 27-kilometre stretch.
The LAMATA chief executive officer placed on record that the construction of the Blue line has been one of the most challenging projects the Lagos State Government has ever embarked upon given the many issues that were overcome.
Akinajo declared: “To get to this point, we have had disturbances and delays in the relocation of submarine cables, submarine natural gas pipelines, and removal of underwater ship wreckages.
“The submarine geological conditions are complex, thus making construction in the lagoon extremely difficult.
“On a number of times, barges have collided with the trestle supporting our construction activities while the outbreak of Covid19 epidemic, and the long transportation cycle of imported equipment and materials have contributed to delays in the prompt completion of the rail project “
She expressed satisfaction that there now an impressive narrative, and said: “Today the story has changed. Today, Mr. Governor and other distinguished guests will take the first ride on this train using our unified electronic payment system, Cowry Card which is currently the means of payment on our regulated buses and ferry services.”
She commended the vision and courage of the governor in seeing to the completion of the first phase of the rail project.
“In our projection, we reckon that this phase of the rail project would move no less than 250,000 passengers daily, while the entire line when completed would move more than 500,000 passengers.
“This will translate to a huge reduction in greenhouse gas emission. Besides, this rail system is powered by electricity, which again shows our sensitivity to protecting our environment and the future of our state.
“The rail system would provide thousands of direct and indirect jobs for our teeming youths as well as training to equip them to work in the rail industry,” the LAMATA chief announced.
She acknowledged the former Managing Directors of LAMATA that started the work, stressing: “I acknowledge Dr. Dayo Mobereola, the pioneer Managing Director of LAMATA under whose watch the project started.
“His successor, Engr. Abiodun Dabiri, who, also contributed his own quota to the development of this project.
“I must also recognize the Director in charge of the project when it all began in 2010, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, who is now the current Commissioner for Transportation, Ogun State.
“I want to recognize the stellar performance of our own Honorable Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, who was then, as Director, Corporate and Investment Planning, ensured that the Lagos State Government has a strategic Transport Master Plan, STMP, which guides our investment in transport plans and projects.”
The completion of the infrastructure ceremony of the first phase of Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line was commemorated by Governor Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday, 21st December 2022.
