The Lagos state government has postponed the projected completion of the Blue Line Light Rail project from Marina to Mile 2.

Abiodun Dabiri, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) managing director, said the government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Alstom SA, a French multinational to complete the project.

The project, which was proposed in 1983, was the brainchild of Lateef Jakande, the first civilian governor of Lagos state.

Dabiri said the work plan has been divided into two phases, with phase one aimed at demonstrating the non-public operation of the existing rolling stock before the end of second quarter of 2019.

“For this purpose, a track length of about 3.0 km from Iganmu Station to National Theatre will be electrified. This operation would be done with the rolling stocks already supplied for the Blue Line project,” he said in a statement released on Sunday.

“This phase would allow the completion of all the preliminary works that would lead to the financing of the main works in Phase two. Phase one will be fully financed by the Lagos state government through internally generated revenue (IGR).

“Phase two, which is expected to be completed in 39 months, would entail the provision and installation of railway operations’ systems for the project from Marina to Mile 2 and the delivery of a passenger-ready Lagos Blue Rail Line by 2022.”

Construction of the Blue Line project began in 2009 with a projected 36-month timeline. In October 2015, it was reported that the rail project would be completed by 2017.