President Bola Tinubu officially kickstarted the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line project's first phase at the Ikeja Train Station on Thursday. The ceremony saw the attendance of prominent figures, including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Minister of Transportation Saidu Alkali, state governors, CCECC officials, and international diplomats.
The newly inaugurated Red Line, spanning 27 kilometers from Agbado to Oyingbo, connects eight vital stations: Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo.
During his speech, President Tinubu praised Governor Sanwo-Olu and highlighted the significance of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), established during Tinubu's governorship.
The ceremony also marked the signing of an agreement for the Red Line's second phase, a joint effort between LAMATA and CCECC.
Key points to know:
- Construction of the first phase started on April 15, 2021, completing successfully in 30 months.
- The Red Line shares tracks with the Nigerian Railway Corporation's Lagos to Ibadan route.
- Local funding, backed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and major banks, played a vital role.
- Trains were sourced from the United States, with additional rolling stock from the UK and China.
- The Red Line aims to reduce travel time from Agbado to Oyingbo to 40 minutes, accommodating over 1,000 people per trip.
- Full capacity targets 250,000 daily passengers, with plans for expansion into Green, Purple, Orange, and Yellow lines.
