Big boost for Lagos as work begins on rail line targeting ‘1m daily commuters’

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, has flagged off the construction of a 37-kilometre rail mass transit red line across the state.

The ceremony was held at the proposed site of the Ikeja train station and witnessed by Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation who was represented by Bashir Jamoh, director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

The project is expected to traverse from Agbado to Marina, while the rail corridor will be constructed in three phases, with a target of conveying more than one million commuters daily.

The first phase (Agbado-Iddo), which will be completed in 24 months, will share a track with the federal government’s Lagos-Ibadan railway modernisation project up to Ebute-Metta.

In a statement on Thursday, Gboyega Akosile, chief press secretary to the governor, also said there will be a dedicated track to run from Ebute-Meta to Oyingbo, which will reduce travel time from about two-and-a-half hours to 35 minutes.

While noting that the passenger capacity of the first phase is 500 daily, he added that the project will be fully operational in the last quarter of 2022, with eight train stations.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sanwo-Olu described the project as another initiative of his administration to deliver enduring infrastructure for the transport system and make Lagos a competitive megacity.

“Today’s flag-off of the construction of infrastructure for the standard gauge Red Line is another promise kept and it demonstrates, in practical terms, our commitment to achieve the objectives of traffic management and transportation pillar in our development agenda,” the governor said.

“This is because we recognise the role which an efficient transportation system plays in enhancing people’s quality of life and as a major driver of socio-economic development.

“The state’s strategic transport master plan, which encompasses a number of projects that are germane to achieving our vision for a greater Lagos, is founded on imperatives that seek to increase transport choices for all users and make the transit system integrated, attractive, convenient, affordable and accessible.

“Since efficient transportation is the backbone of any economy, we are happy to be committing this investment in our transport infrastructure, so that our people can meet their daily targets and aspirations. This all-important transport project we are all gathered to witness today represents a major step in this direction.

“The unique characteristics of the Red Line is its integration with the Ikeja Bus Terminal, Oshodi–Abule Egba Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane, 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.

“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.”

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the implementation of the red line is being supported under the Differentiated Cash Reserve Requirement (DCRR) programme — a financing package put in place by the state government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).