The Lagos Mass Transit Blue Line Rail Project’s first phase was officially launched on Tuesday by President Muhammadu Buhari.
From Marina to Mile 2, the first phase is a 13-kilometer stretch with five stations: Marina Iconic, National Theatre, Orile-Iganmu, Suru-Alaba, and Mile 2.
One of the six metro lines mentioned in the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) master plan is the Blue Line.
When finished, the 27-kilometer rail line, which is being built in two stages, will connect Marina with Okokomaiko.
Buhari and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu arrived at the Marina Iconic Station at 11.25 a.m.
He also watched the contract for the Second Phase of the Lagos Mass Transit Blue Line Rail being signed.
Along with other dignitaries, the President rode the train with Governor Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and others.
Gov. Sanwo-Olu stated during his remarks at the inauguration that Phase 1 of the Blue Line was anticipated to travel the distance in less than 15 minutes, as opposed to the 2.5 hours required to do so by road at rush hour.
The benefits of the train line, he claimed, were both clear-cut and incalculable because it provided Lagos citizens with a better level of living through a more effective form of transportation.
The project, according to the governor, will increase resident time freedom, ease traffic congestion, and support Nigeria’s high-calibre climate action commitments.
He claims that a dedicated Independent Power Producer (IPP) will provide high voltage electricity for the whole Blue Line rail system, including with backup systems.
”What this means is that the operation of this line will leave zero carbon emissions impact on the environment.
”This iconic Marina Station that is hosting us today will be the largest and busiest train hub in Africa, with a capacity to process as many as 400 passengers per minute, translating into 24,000 passengers every hour.
”When Phase 1 starts running fully, we envisage that it will transport a quarter of a million Lagosians daily, rising to half a million daily when the entire corridor is completed.
”Mr President, I thank you for the Federal Government’s support on this project and many others.
“You have made our work administering Lagos much easier in many ways, and we will eternally be grateful to you for this,” he said.
The state government’s transportation plan, according to Deputy Governor Hamzat, is multimodal.
He claimed that it seamlessly combined the diverse aspects of the road, rail, and water to make commuting enjoyable.
According to Hamzat, the rail project would ease traffic congestion, improve the economic well-being of Lagos citizens, and elevate Lagos State to the same level as other states of its magnitude.
He was grateful to the locals for putting up with the government despite all the difficulties the project’s implementation brought about.
The Blue Line rail project, according to the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Cui Jianchun, is a speed line that will give people of Lagos more energy to accomplish other things.
According to Jianchun, the mass rail would provide a lot of energy and shorten business processes.
”Today we really understand the meaning of time, we need to sustain the usage of time for a greater efficiency.
”Nigeria and China have harmony in collaboration in sustainable development, the two countries have the same vision to move the countries forward,” he said.
The Chinese ambassador said that China and Nigeria have chosen 15 projects for cooperation.
