President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned the 37 Kilometer Lagos Red Line Rail project.
The project is a 37 Kilometer North South rail route which will run from Agbado in Ogun state to Marina with 13 stations at Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, MMIA International, MMIA Domestic, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, Ebute meta, Iddo, Ebute Ero and Marina.
While inaugurating the project, the President reiterated his administration’s commitment in improving on the nation’s infrastructural development.
He added that there is no going back on the reforms embarked upon by his government that have led to the hike of essential goods and services.
“But this revolution that has started, this reform that is ongoing, we are not looking back. The engineering, the construction, the affirmation of our pledge to be loyal to our country. There is one thing I know is that there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
The Red Line is expected to facilitate 37 trips daily, accommodating approximately 500,000 passengers.
Unlike the electric-powered Blue Line, the Red Line will utilise a diesel-powered system known as Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU), and is managed by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA)
Initial estimates of the Red Line project, was pegged at the cost of $135 million under the Greater Lagos Urban Transportation Project.
However, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, revealed that both the Blue and Red Lines combined would exceed N100 billion. The construction of the project was handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
After the commissioning, the president will depart Lagos for a two-day official visit to the State of Qatar on the invitation by His Highness, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar.