After years of waiting, the state government of Lagos, Nigeria’s biggest commercial capital, has finally completed the Blue Line train from Marina to Mile 2. The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, state speaker of the House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, members of the state executive council, and other journeyed 27km intra-city rail system on Wednesday.
What’s more?
Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu in his remark declared that the official opening of the rail line will be in January 2023 by Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari when the second phase covering Mile 2 to Okokomaiko would begin.
Why it matters
Lagos State with over 15 million residents is Nigeria and one of Africa’s biggest commercial cities. It is also home to one of the worst traffic jams in the country. According to research by JCDecaux Grace Lake, Lagos State residents can sit in traffic for more than 30 hours a week. The commissioning of an intra-train system would ease the pain and suffering of people going about their business in Lagos, Africa’s most populous city.
By the numbers
According to the Lagos State governor, the first phase is projected to transport ¼ of a million people (250,000) daily and, on completion, this would increase to half a million (500,000 passengers) daily. Each train comprises four coaches and each coach can take up to 180 passengers conveniently.