Tinubu inaugurates iconic Lagos Red Line rail project

President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated the first phase of the iconic Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line project.

The President was earlier received by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his wife, Ibijoke, the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hazmat, state commissioners, and aides, at the inauguration of the Red Line train project at Ikeja, Lagos.

Tinubu was also welcomed by Governors Usman Ododo (Kogi), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), former Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, and other dignitaries.

Speaking while unveiling the 27 km first phase of the rail project stretching from Agbado in Ogun State to Oyingbo, President Tinubu commended the Lagos Area Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the Lagos State Government led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for such a massive project.

The president said what LAMATA and the Lagos State Government had done is a strong reminder that true change is possible and “change we must achieve, the progress we must achieve, it is not about a single individual, we have huge population in the world, we cannot afford to relax, the burgeoning population, we must plan and prepare for it and this economy, we will grow it and we will feed ourselves out of the penury and we will be happy we did it.”

Speaking at the event, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the LRMT Red Line- a 37-kilometre marvel of modern engineering, stretched from Agbado in Ogun State to the iconic National Theatre in Iganmu.

He said the first segment spans an impressive 27 kilometres from Agbado to Oyingbo, featuring state-of-the-art stations at Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo.

The governor said at full capacity this first phase of the Red Line would transport 250,000 passengers daily, which would grow to 750,000 passengers daily when “we have the full complement of rolling stock on the line.”

He added that while much had been accomplished, there was still much ahead to be done, noting that there would be a total of six lines on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit System when fully developed.

“We have already started preliminary work on the next two: the Green and Purple Lines. The Green Line is a 71.49-kilometre route from Marina to the Lekki Free Zone, one of the fastest-growing industrial areas on the continent today, and also where we will be sitting the new Lagos International Airport.

“The Purple Line is a 54.35-kilometre line from the Redemption Camp to Ojo, near the Lagos State University. The final two lines will be the Orange and the Yellow Lines,” he added.

Sanwo-Olu had in December 2023 when he unveiled the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line Ikeja Overpass promised that the rail would be unveiled by Tinubu before the end of the first quarter of 2024.

In a post via his official X handle, Sanwo-Olu said the commissioning of the project is not just about improving the city’s mobility, but about reshaping the urban landscape and setting a new pace for development.

The governor stated that by connecting critical points across Lagos, his administration is opening doors to opportunities, growth, and a sustainable future.

He wrote: “Embarking on the Lagos Mass Rail Transit (LMRT) project is more than just enhancing transit; it’s about weaving the fabric of our city into a tighter, more connected community. Every track laid, every station built, brings us closer to a Lagos where distance no longer dictates destiny.

“The LMRT project is a beacon of progress, illuminating the path to a future where our city moves smoother, faster, and more efficiently. It’s not just about the journey from point A to B, but about how each journey brings us together, making Lagos not just a place to live, but a place to thrive.