President Bola Tinubu is visiting Lagos state on Thursday to commission the first phase of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line. A press statement issued by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), announced that the President would visit to officially open the 27 kilometre-long train on Thursday, February 29, 2024. “The first phase of the Red Line stretches 27 kilometres from Agbado to Oyingbo with eight stations at Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo. “The groundbreaking and commencement of civil works for the rail project started on 21st April 2021 and with the dedication, project management, and monitoring, the infrastructure was completed within a 30-months window.”
The statement said, “President Tinubu to launch Lagos Red Line rail President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Thursday 29th February 2024 perform the commissioning of the infrastructure for the first phase of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line.
The Managing Director of LAMATA, said, "We have remained focused and worked conscientiously to deliver the Red Line. With the Red Line, people from far away Agbado can travel to Oyingbo in just about 40 minutes, a journey that can take more than two hours through the road."
"We project that this phase of the Red Line will move about 500,000 passengers daily. So we appeal to the people not to rush to enter the train. The cabins have enough spaces to move more than 1000 people at a time," she said.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on February 24, conducted a test-run of the Lagos Red Line ahead of the unveiling. The governor inspected tracks, rail corridors, and comfort facilities like cooling systems, handrails, seats, and safety features.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu will on Thursday depart Lagos for a two-day official visit to the State of Qatar.
A statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed that the visit, which is on the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, will “further strengthen cooperation between the two nations in several areas, including security, cultural exchange, and economic development,”
The statement titled: ‘President Tinubu honors invitation to visit Qatar and participate in business and investment forum.‘ further stated that “During the visit, President Tinubu will witness the signing of several agreements focused on boosting Nigeria’s real sector and creating value-additive investments across the fields of trade, education, culture, solid minerals, digital economy, agriculture, and gas, as well as fostering cooperation on counter-terrorism.”
