By Emeka Amaefula
43-YEARS AFTER GROUNDBREAKING-LAGOS BLUE LINE RAIL BEGINS OPERATION
The Government of late Alhaji Lateef Jakande 43-years ago did ground-breaking ceremony of Lagos Light railway project and by Wednesday 21st of December, 2022 the Government of Babajide Sanwo Olu did the test running ceremony which signals the completion and operation of the Blue Line Railway commuter mode of transportation in Lagos state. The Blue Line Master plan is among the six Rail lines framework which Lagos State Strategic Master Plan-STMP happened to be originated by All Progressives Congress APC Presidential Candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who renewed the project and gave it a lifeline. What was commissioned on Wednesday 21st of December is the first phase of the Marina to Mile 2.
The proud Lagos state Governor Sanwo Olu and Mudashiru Obasa the Speaker of the Lagos State House of assembly and members of the executive Council of Lagos state government went on a ride inside the train from the national Theatre station Iganmu to marina, via the Lagos Island which took them to the straight distance of 27 Kilometers intra-City rail system.
The Governor in a brief remark after the test run train ride said that the project happened to be the first to be undertaken by the sub national Government in Africa and is targeted to ease transportation hiccups encountered by the residents of the state. The Opening ceremony has been slated to take place in the month of January 2023 by President Muhammadu Buhari at a time when the second phase of the project must have been completed from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko. From the design of the project the Blue Rail Line made up of a total distance of 27Km began from Marina to Iganmu, Mile 2, Alaba and terminating at Okokomaiko which will evacuate a lot of commuters doing business and those engaged in service-oriented endeavours and for social interaction among the citizenry of Lagos state.
The details of the project include the five stations already completed as it has 13km of Rail tracks which were constructed in the first phase while it is targeted to transport over 250, 000 passengers on daily operation. The entire 27 Km when completed will evacuate 500,000 passengers daily. The Light rail line has each train with four Coaches as each Coach will take up to 180 passengers with ease and with conveniences.
“This milestone in the development of the Lagos rail mass transit is the culmination of several impactful reforms in the transport ecosystem of Lagos state, starting in 1999, the dawn of the fourth Republic, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office as Governor.
Our vision for an integrated transport system enunciated in the Traffic Management and Transportation pillar of our T.H.E.M.E.S agenda. Our transportation strategy is a multimodal one, bringing together the various elements of road, rail, and water and ensuring they are seamlessly integrated.
“Coincidentally, the Marina is central to our integrated multimodal transport system, being a melting pot for all the transportation modes. I am happy to announce that we will be developing Marina into an integrated transport interchange, with the support of the French Development Agency (AFD). I am also happy to inform you that the three train sets for the commercial passenger operations for the Blue Line are already on ground.
“I want to also place on record the role played by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The CBN’s Differential Cash Reserves Requirement (DCCR) made it possible for Fidelity, Sterling and Access Banks to pool resources together to provide credit financing for the completion of this first phase of the Blue Line. I am grateful to the leadership of the three banks for believing in us.
“To all of you the good people of Lagos, thank you for your patience, for bearing with us in the face of all the inconveniences thrown up by the implementation of the Light rail network. This project is for you, please ensure you safeguard it. You should also bear in mind that this rail system is powered by electricity and must therefore not be trespassed in any way. Crossing the tracks is no longer an option and the issue of vandalism in any form should not even arise at all. Pedestrian bridges have been provided to enable you to cross from one side to the other.
“To the glory of God, it is now my pleasure to formally announce the completion of the completion of the infrastructure for the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line. We will now begin test-running of the line in preparation for its commissioning for commercial passenger operations in the first quarter of 2023”.
The train ride usually operates with the electronic payment system of Cowry Card which already is in use in the regulated ferry and buses services under the management of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority-LAMATA.
______Emeka Amaefula—————————-+234(0)8111813069
