Gov. Sanwo-Olu fulfills Jakande’s dream, lays foundation for Lagos rail line from Marina to Agbado
Ayodele Olalere
Lagos State governor, Mr, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday laid the ground breaking for the Phase 1 of the construction of Lagos Rail Mass Transit, LRMT, Red Line project.
The rail line Red Line project is coming several years after the commencement of the Phase 1 of Blue Line rail project which started from Marina and supposed to end at Mile 2. However, the Blue Line is yet to be completed.
The first Phase of the Red Line project is a 28km rail from Agbado to Oyingbo, Ebute-Metta. It will have eight stations sited at Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo.
According to Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, the project will be completed by the fourth quarter of 2022. When completed, it will reduce traveling hours from the present three hours from Agbado to Oyingbo, to 35minutes.
She added adequate funding for the project is available, saying the project was in fulfillment of the campaign promises of Sanwo-Olu’s administration to provide robust transporation system for Lagosians.
She further said a total of 260 property were affected to make way for the project, adding both tenants and landlords of such property have been financially compensated.
The elated governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the metro rail project is in fulfillment and realisation of the dream of late former governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, who had wanted to construct a metro rail line in the state during his tenure in the 80s but was truncated by military regime.
“Today, we begin another journey into making our state competitive as we further our commitment to building an enduring infrastructure for our transport system. With the pillar ‘T’ of our THEMES agenda, our commitment is to develop an efficient and sustainable transportation system that will improve mobility, promote economic growth and enhance the living conditions of our people.
Since transportation is the backbone of any economy, it then means we need to invest in our transport infrastructure so that our people can meet their daily targets and aspirations. This all-important transport project, the ground breaking of which we are all gathered to witness today represents a major step in this direction,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He said his administration “recognize the role efficient transportation systems plays in enhancing people’s quality of life and as a major driver of socio-economic development.”
” The construction of infrastructure for the standard gauge Red Line, which would share tracks with the Lagos-Ibadan Railway Modernisation Projects and whose implementation starts today, is divided into two phases.
The Red Line is a 37 kilometre rail road with 12 proposed stations. The first phase will cover Oyingbo to Agbado with nine stations. Three of the stations will be constructed with the Lagos – Ibadan Railway Modernisation Projects by the Federal Government at Agbado, Agege and Ebute Metta Junction.
The remaining six would be constructed as independent stations at Iju, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin Yaba and Oyingbo. The phase two which would be mostly elevated would have stations at Iddo and Ebute-Ero before terminating at Marina where a huge interchange is planned to manage commuters on the Red, Green and Blue Rail lines, BRT buses and those using the waterways.”
While enumerating some of the features of the Red Line project, Governor Sanwo-Olu said ” the unique characteristics of the Red Line is its integration with the Ikeja Bus Terminal, Oshodi – Abule-Egba Bus Rapid Transit, the future Orange Line, which goes from Ikeja to Agbowa, and the General Aviation Terminal One of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport through a skywalk.”
“This particular station which has been appropriately named Ikeja Train Centre also has facilities for Park and Ride and commercial spaces. Also, the Oshodi Train Station will integrate with the Oshodi Bus Terminal and provision for adequate park and ride services and commercial spaces.
Another unique feature of the Red Line is that all the stations have elevated concourses with either at grade island or side platforms for easy boarding and alighting of passengers. The Red Line also integrates with our Bus Terminals at Oyingbo, Yaba, Oshodi, Ikeja and Iju, giving modal options to our people in their daily commute, either for business or leisure.”
Upon full completion, the Red Line rail line would commute One million passengers daily.
Thursday’s ceremony also witnessed presentation of cheques to owners and tenants of affected 260 property.
