Navigating around the megacity of Lagos seems to be getting easier with the new Blue Line Rail that the city officials have opened up to the residents. Long have Lagosians yearned for alternatives, different from common buses or pricey taxis that get them moving from various points.

Now, it looks like they have that bit of ease.

Monday, the 4^th of September, 2023, is when it all begins for the commuters transiting around the Lagos Island axis. The Blue Line rail will accommodate travellers back and forth from Marina to Mile 2 in addition to the discounted fares they will be getting. What that means is navigation with speed without hurting their pockets so much.

All a would-be passenger needs now in order to get on one of the rides is the contactless payment device called the Cowry Card which is already a widely used solution when boarding the BRT or the ferries.

“We are starting partial passenger operations from 6:30-10am and 4-9:30pm,” says Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who had to be present at the launch on Monday. He also adds via the X social media platform that the Blue Line will be “kicking off with 12 trips for 2 weeks, gradually increasing to 76 trips/day.”

A fine beginning it seems, but that is not the end of it. The Red Line is expected to follow next. To derive efficiency, it would host audacious lines and flyovers all across the metropolis. Good times are near to all the city’s residents, business people and tourists – the governor wants them to firmly believe that.

It is the reason why he was excited to be making such a rare announcement which has been a long time coming.

For the Blue Line rail already here, some of its features include more than 300 CCTV cameras and command centres at all stations. Also available is an independent power plant that ensures non-interrupted movement.

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.