By: Bola Badmus- Lagos
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has assured Lagosians that the ongoing construction activities around the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line project would become a reality before the end of his first tenure in office, which is May 29, 2023.
Governor Sanwo-Olu gave this assurance on Tuesday while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the inspection tour of the project took the governor to the Yaba and Ebute Meta axis of the state, where train stations and vehicular bridges overpass were sited.
The governor stated that the Ebute Metta vehicular bridge overpass was 75 to 80 per cent completed while that of Yaba was 95 per cent completed, adding that the state government was working with all necessary stakeholders, most especially the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to meet the deadline.
On the train stations, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the two train stations in the axis were at various advance stages of completion, expressing satisfaction with the progress and level of work on the Redline rail project and on the stretch of Ebute- Meta to Agbado.
The governor assured that when the project is completed, the unfortunate train accident which claimed lives at the PWD rail crossing could be averted considering the design of the ongoing modern Red Line project.
“You have seen the train stations, especially the Yaba and Oyingbo train stations. We started at Yaba there and we also have a vehicular bridge overpass. With the train station, we believe we are about 75 to 80 per cent complete and with the bridge, it’s about 90 to 95 per cent but the adjoining road to Yaba would be cleaned up.
“We are satisfied with the level of construction so far. You can also see there is also lots of construction there. You can see a lot of traders along the rail track, what we came here to do is a lot of advocacy that the track will be fully walled off when operation begins.
“We believe, we are still on track, and it will be ready before the end of our first term in office, depending on when we want to commission it. We will just be doing a lot of test running because this rail track will be working with the Nigerian Railway Corporation from Ebute- Metta to Ibadan so we need to harmonize our own rail infrastructure,” he stated.
On the outcry over the election, Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed regret that during the campaigns, divisive rhetorics were used but disclosed that the healing process had been initiated.
“We saw hateful and hurtful ethnic profiling by fellow citizens – which is totally out of place for us as Lagosians, the proud residents of West Africa’s pre-eminent melting pot.
“I want to recognise and salute all the multitudes of residents who refused to succumb to those who sought and still seek to divide us with their unguarded and inciting comments,” he said.
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