Lagos activates Blue Rail project, warns residents against crossing electrified tracks

*The Lagos State Government urges the residents to rather use the overhead bridges as its new Blue Rail project with electrified tracks begins full commercial operations Monday, September 4, 2023

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As the state’s begin full commercial operations Monday, September 4, 2023, the Lagos State Government (LASG) has cautioned residents to avoid crossing the tracks of the Blue Rail line project.

Gboyega Akosile, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, issued this warning in a post via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.

ConsumerConnect reports the first phase of the rail line extends from Marina to Mile 2 with five stations located in Marina, National Theatre, Iganmu, Alaba, and Orile.

Akosile urged the residents to rather use the overhead bridges as the Blue Rail line tracks are electrified.

The governor’s CPS stated: “Dear Lagosians, please be reminded as we kick off the commercial operations of the Lagos Blue Line Rail transport on Monday, that the rail line is electrified.

“Don’t cross the rail lines because it is dangerous. Use the overhead bridges that have been provided by the government. Thank you.”

Likewise, Abimbola Akinajo, General Manager of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) in a video clip accompanying Akosile’s post, expressed worry on the rate at which unscrupulous people cut fences on the Blue Rail line and run across it.

Akinajo was quoted in the clip as saying: “With regard to the operations of the Blue Line in particular, we all know that we have publicised that the Blue Line is going to be an electrified rail system.

“If you want to cross from one side to the other, you must use the overhead bridges.”

She also explained “this is a necessity for all of us to understand and we have fenced all along the alignment for the Blue Line to ensure that people do not cross it.

“But what we see time and again is that people go there and they cut the fences and they run across.”

The LAMATA Chief stated: “We have bothered to put pedestrian crossings; there is access for people with physical challenges, and therefore we have no reason to cross the track.

“We just ask that people respect this and respect the rails because if we don’t, we will find ourselves in very dire straits.”

Kindly Share This Story