President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday inaugurated the first phase of the Lagos Blue Rail Line, taking a ride from the Marina Station to National Theatre Station.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President On Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President was aboard the trip with Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor of the State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, members of the Federal and State Executive Councils, members of the Federal and State Legislative Assemblies, President of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Chen Sichang , journalists, among others.
Adesina explained that the first phase of the project executed by the Lagos state government, spans 13 kilometers and has five stations – Mile 2, Suru-Alaba, Orile Iganmu, National Theatre and Marina.
He disclosed that President Buhari also witnessed the signing of the contract for the construction of the second phase of the Lagos Blue Rail Line by the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo and President of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Chen Sichang.
In his remarks, Governor Sanwo-Olu thanked the President for the state visit to commission several landmark projects, adding that since 1999 the state has not enjoyed this level of support from the Federal Government.
Sanwo-Olu stated the project would reduce travel time, improve the quality of life of citizens and make Lagos one of the most resilient mega-cities in Africa that would compete favorably with other megacities around the world.
He disclosed that the state would invite the President again to Lagos to commission the Red Line, which he described as a bigger rail corridor project compared with the Blue Rail Line.
‘‘This iconic Marina Station would be the largest and busiest in Africa. It has the capacity to process about 450 passengers per minute, meaning that in an hour this station can process about 25,000 passengers,’’ he stated.
Adesina added that President Buhari also inaugurated the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, before Lagos for Dakar.
