Lagos Red, Blue rail lines ready by December 2022, says LAMATA

*The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority says when the six rail lines and one monorail, 14 BRT corridors and over 20 water routes are properly harnessed, Lagos State will join the league of cities with an efficient transport system in the world

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

Regarding the iconic rail lines that promise to change the transport landscape of Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria and Centre of Excellence, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has disclosed that the Lagos Blue and Red rail lines will become operational by December 2022.

Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, General Manager of LAMATA, stated this during a visit by the officials of the state’s Office of Transformation, Creativity and Innovation (Office of Head of Service) Wednesday, February 24, in Lagos, says agency report.

The LAMATA General Manager said that the agency was working assiduously to ensure the delivery of the rail lines to passenger operations by December 2022.

Akinajo stated: “These two lines will change the transport landscape of Lagos when operational.

“We have a transport master plan which speaks to the vision of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on transportation.

“We have six rail lines and one monorail, 14 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors, over 20 water routes and we are sure that when all of these are properly harnessed, Lagos will join the league of cities with an efficient transport system.”

She further noted: “We have advertised four other rail lines for the private sector to invest. We are working on the private sector so they could bring in about 1,500 high capacity buses by 2022.

“We would be launching our First Mile Last Mile scheme very soon. We are working on the construction of two interchanges at Mile 2 and CMS. We want to ensure that Lagosians travel in comfort.”

LAMATA is working towards “a connected Lagos”, with the various transport projects implemented through it by the state government, said the General Manager.

She explained that the vision of an intermodal, integrated transport system is meant to create choices for the Lagos commuters towards achieving their daily commute needs and meeting up their economic and social engagements without stress.

Akinajo also stressed the agency has opened up 57 routes for operators, including the two main transport unions ─National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria.

These associations are currently operating on the Oshodi─Abule Egba BRT corridor and other standard bus routes, according to her.

Akinajo, nonetheless, informed the visiting officials that LAMATA needs to increase its manpower as the transport networks unfold and an office complex to accommodate its staff.

Mr. Abdurrahman Lekki, Lead Consultant at the Office of Transformation, Creativity and Innovation, described LAMATA as a transport agency pivotal to the Traffic Management and Transportation; Health and Environment; Education and Technology (THEMES) agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.

The Lead Consultant urged the agency to ensure that a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the transport sector are carried along to guarantee success of government plans for the state.

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