Lagos anticipates President Tinubu’s commissioning of the Red Line Rail in 2wks

It was under President Bola Tinubu as Lagos State Governor 22 years ago that a foundation laying started that has now led to present Lagosians soaking in the experiences of train rides that move them around their city.

Ayodele Johnson February 16, 2024

2 minutes read

President Bola Tinubu is shown boarding a presidential jet ready to fly back to Abuja from Lagos at the start of the new year 2024. [Instagram - jidesanwoolu]

In exactly two weeks from now, Lagos will witness a repurposed homecoming of the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu who has been designated to be the one who commissions the brand new Red Line Rail service that has been baking in the oven.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu shared word about this at the launch of a grant initiative on Valentine’s Day. The Lagos Market Trader Money is targeting 15,000 Lagosian small-scale traders who get to access financing aid pegged at ₦750million.

It was from a podium speaking to this audience on Wednesday that Mr Sanwo-olu announced the homecoming.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, while flagging off the distribution of financing tools to 15,000 Lagos Market Trader Money beneficiaries let them know to expect Nigeria's president homecoming after nine weeks of being away from Lagos. [Instagram - jidesanwoolu] — Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, while flagging off the distribution of financing tools to 15,000 Lagos Market Trader Money beneficiaries let them know to expect Nigeria’s president homecoming after nine weeks of being away from Lagos. [Instagram – jidesanwoolu]

On the 29th of February, by God’s grace, I am happy to tell you, is the date we have set for the commissioning of the Red Line Rail in Ikeja. Our leader, President Bola Tinubu has told us he will be in Lagos to launch the service.

The developmental project he started 20 years ago is what has led to the results we now see.

When it launches, says Governor Sanwo-olu, the Red Line Rail will convey commuters from Iju, and Agbado down to Agege, Mushin, Oshodi, Yaba and Ebute-metta. It will transport goods, workers and students.

Do you want this or not? Governor Sanwo-olu asked the Yoruba-speaking gathering who then chorused back an affirmative.

ALSO READ: Train bell dings towards March when Lagosians can hop on the Red Line Rail

It is most certainly destiny that President Bola Tinubu has got the job of commissioning the Red Line Rail. It was under him as Lagos State Governor 22 years ago that a foundation laying started that has now led to present Lagosians soaking in the experiences of train rides that move them around their city.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu entered into his office 17 years after LAMATA was created. His time as the state chief's executive has witnessed the coming to fruition of the envisioned intra-city train service. [Instagram - jidesanwoolu] — Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu entered into his office 17 years after LAMATA was created. His time as the state chief’s executive has witnessed the coming to fruition of the envisioned intra-city train service. [Instagram – jidesanwoolu]

By enabling the creation of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) in 2002, future Lagos has invented the wheel to direct the actualisation of a multimodal transportation system that considers megacity transits by ferries, the bus rapid transit (BRT) and now the train.

The Blue Line Rail, an alternative service covering the waterfront communities in Lagos already gives a sense of ease as Lagosian workers now have a predictable way to shuttle around the megacity. They have found a connection with timeliness because that is what it takes to make a ride.

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.