Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria, is set to become a leader in sustainable transport in Africa with the completion of two major rail projects that will ease traffic congestion and improve the quality of life for millions of residents.
The Lagos State government has procured additional rolling stocks for the Blue and Red lines rail systems, which are expected to arrive in the state before the end of the year, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu confirmed on Thursday.
The Blue and Red lines are part of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) network, a rapid transit system that aims to provide a safe, reliable, and affordable alternative to the chaotic road transport in the megacity.
The Blue Line, which runs from Marina to Mile 2 along the Lagos-Badagry corridor, has been completed and is currently lifting passengers. The Red Line, which runs from Agbado to Marina with 13 stations, is projected to start commercial operations in the first quarter of 2024.
The governor, who spoke during a high-level meeting with the president and management of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) at its headquarters in Beijing, China, reiterated his administration’s commitment to completing the second phase of the Blue Line project and flagging off the commercial operations of the Red Line project.
“We have made requests for additional rolling stocks for Red Line and Blue Line. That conversation is ongoing. We have started making payments and hope that because of our commitment, we will get those rolling stocks before the end of the year. It would improve the journey experience of our people. It would improve citizens’ appreciation of what the government is doing to reduce transportation pressure in a big city like Lagos,” the governor said.
He added that the new rolling stocks would ensure a more predictable journey time, as well as an improvement in the quality of life and a reduction of traffic gridlocks in the city.
The governor also expressed satisfaction with the pace of progress of the Red Line project and hinted at inaugurating it for commercial operations as soon as the presidency communicated the availability of President Bola Tinubu, who had agreed in principle to commission the project.
“We are happy that during our tenure, we were able to complete phase one of the Blue Line and not just completing, we started its operation and now we are seeing an increase in the passenger traffic every month. We have also increased the number of trips.
“People expect a lot more from us and that is why we are committed to phase two of the project. The work has started and we are trying to make money available for you (CCECC) to continue to push. I have said to people that within our second term, we should complete phase two of the Blue Line.
“For the Red Line, which is even more exciting for us because we started the construction during our administration; we are happy that phase one of it is practically completed and I am happy to invite you when Mr. President Bola Tinubu, would be commissioning the Red Line. We are still hoping to commission it within this February.
“We believe the Red Line will carry more passengers than the Blue Line. The Red Line is longer and it has a lot of other infrastructure. All the bridge components that we are committed to have been completed and commissioned, except for the one in Mushin.
“I want you to encourage the Federal Government to also complete their bridge components of the Red Line so that we can have a rail system that would not have any incident of traffic or interaction with vehicles or passengers and we can wall off and ensure it is a very safe rail corridor. There are a lot of interactions on the Red Line, so we need to ensure that we operate a rail corridor that is very safe for passengers, citizens, and vehicular movement.
“We are also advancing conversation on the right of way at the corridor for phase two of the Red Line, which will take it based on what we are seeing to the connection of the Blue Line. That makes it a lot more functional because what it means is that passengers can hop in and hop out between the Red Line and Blue Line when phase two is completed.”
The LRMT network is part of the Lagos Urban Transport Project (LUTP), a comprehensive plan to improve the transport system in the state and reduce its environmental impact. The LUTP is supported by the World Bank, the French Development Agency, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
The LRMT network is also aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 11, which calls for making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
According to the UN, sustainable transport systems are crucial for achieving social and economic development, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
The LRMT network is expected to contribute to these goals by providing a low-carbon and energy-efficient mode of transport, as well as enhancing the accessibility, mobility, and safety of the urban population.
The LRMT network will also create employment opportunities, stimulate economic activities, and boost the tourism potential of the state.
The governor expressed his gratitude to the CCECC for its partnership and professionalism in delivering the rail projects and assured them of his continued support and cooperation.
He also invited the CCECC to explore other areas of investment in the state, such as housing, health, education, and agriculture.
The governor was accompanied to the meeting by some officials of his government, including the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, and the Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo.
Source: Business Day
