Boost for Blue Line rail system as Sanwo-Olu hands over 3 new trains

… hails Tinubu’s financial support

The operation of the Blue Line rail system in Lagos, Nigeria’s buzzling commercial city is receiving a boost soon as the state government is adding three additional trains to its existing fleet.

The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, officially handed over the three new trains of 12 coaches at the National Theatre, Iganmu, station, on Sunday.

At the event, the governor said the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu was working for prosperity across Lagos in particular and Nigeria in general.

He was accompanied by some members of his cabinet, other officials, including Oluwaseun Osiyemi, commissioner for transportation, and Abimbola Akinajo, managing director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

Sanwo-Olu praised Tinubu, saying that the procurement for the additional coaches was made possible through the president’s financial support.

The governor noted that the delivery of the coaches would boost the operations of the Blue Line rail system.

He said: “With these new sets, we are doubling the capacity we have on the Blue Line. There will be reduction in travel time and faster turn-around, reduction in journey tone and a more reliable train experience. You will begin to see trains after every 10 or 15 minutes.

“About a year and half ago, Mr. President, in his usual understanding of what sub-nationals are doing under his renewed hope agenda, while we have seen the removal of the subsidy removal and the introduction of CNG buses, the president deemed it fit to support us financially in delivering the new coaches.

“Now we can see that his agenda is working well for us in Lagos. We want to thank the president and all that have been part of our journey.

“Before the end of the year, we are going to see more new coaches on the Red Line too which are bigger than the Blue Line. This is what the president has directed us to do and we have done it so we need to thank him.”

Sanwo-Olu noted that with the new coaches, the cost of running and maintaining the Blue Line by the state will be more affordable and bring down cost of operation. He added that the coaches will be installed on the track with all safety measures put in place.

“Phase two of the Blue Line from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko is underway, the stations and tracks are coming up and everything is on schedule,” he assured.

“We urge residents to remain hopeful and confident in this administration. The dividends of democracy are becoming visible, and this is just the beginning,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu said that more rolling stock was expected for the Red Line rail corridor before the end of the year, as part of wider efforts to ease the cost and time of transportation for residents.

The new train sets are part of a broader strategy to modernise Lagos’ transport network and position the state as a model for sustainable urban mobility in Africa,” the governor stated.