Press Releases

Lagos Light Rail Project To Be Completed In 2011 - Fashola

Mar 3, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Tuesday night disclosed that the State Government’s intra-city light rail projects for the first two rail routes would commence full public operations by 2011.

Governor Fashola who disclosed this while speaking at an Economist Conference on CEO Agenda for Nigeria held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island added that the first route will run from the Western axis in Okokomaiko towards Badagry right to the Lagos Central Business District while the second one would run from Iddo to Ijoko Otta in Ogun State

He said that his administration was working on its intra city light rail and water transportation projects to reduce pressure on road transportation in the state.

Said he: “We are investing in the construction of two intra city light rail routes with the first one commencing from the western axis in Okokomaiko to the Lagos Central Business District (CBD). The second one would be from Iddo to Ijoko in Ogun state and both are due for delivery by 2011, with their ground breaking coming up this August.’’

Governor Fashola reiterated that the investment is a demonstration of the belief in the local economy as initially done by the concessioning of the first two kilometers of the Lekki-Epe Express road where the State has committed N5billion as a sign of its seriousness.

Also, he said that the designs of five other rail routes were ready and that six out of 12 firms have been short-listed for concession while its contractual agreement would be completed by June, 2009.

The Governor explained that the Lagos traffic is not unique in terms of challenges it poses to Lagosians but is a reflection of the problem of humanity where people are always leaving the rural areas for the cities.

In his words: “In terms of travel times, Lagos is not significantly different from any of the major cities like Johannesburg, New York, Paris and London. By the time we successfully implement what lies on top of our agenda for rail and water transportation, we would have dealt a decisive blow to the challenge of transportation”.

Governor Fashola told the gathering that the state government had already identified 25 traffic gridlocks in the state, adding that his administration was coming up with a traffic master plan whose implementation would help arrest the gridlocks.

“Our consultant advised us to create turning points where there are traffic gridlocks to ease the problems. That is what we had done around Otedola Estate, after the toll gate,Maryland and Muson Centre respectively”, he informed.

On the menace of commercial motorcycle and bus operators popularly called okadas and danfos, Governor Fashola said they cannot be banned now until alternatives are found as they are existing to meet the needs of Nigerians who want to beat the traffic that comes with the operation of the danfo buses and privately owned vehicles on the roads.

The Governor also disclosed that presently there are about 40,000 commercial buses and close to one million commercial motorbikes plying the state’s roads and this is in addition to the several other privately owned cars that ply the roads on a daily basis.

He charged the enterpreneurs to consider the establishment of production outfits to manufacture buses locally as the state would stop going to Brazil for the buses once an alternative is found here, adding that until then, the danfos would continue to exist.

He identified the absence of a traffic Master plan in the last twenty to thirty years as being responsible for the current chaotic traffic situation in the State.

He informed that the state Government would also ensure the construction of flyovers where necessary as it is being done at Itire –Okota Bridge to link commuters and motorists in seven different local government areas.

While reiterating the success story recorded by the operation of the BRT bus system since it was introduced, Governor said the state government only provided the legislation, enabling environment, infrastructure and introduction of the operators to banks for them to secure bank loans to buy the luxury buses for the scheme.

He added that the state government also introduced three types of tricycle under its Lagos Rural Transportation Initiative (LARUTI) which is being introduced through its rural infrastructure programme

Governor Fashola promised the residents of Lagos that as it completes more roads such as the Yaba –Oyingbo road and LASU –Iba road, Lagosians will see more BRT routes been opened with BRT dedicated lanes .

The Governor also told the audience that the removal of illegal structures at Oshodi was informed by the need to ensure that the activities of 520 people with stalls in the illegal market does not continue to negatively impact on the lives of 18 million residents of Lagos who have been forced to resort to a parallel route of Ikorodu road due to a consistent blockade of Agege Motor road by street traders.

Said he:“When the Agege Motor road was not very motorable, robbery cases were very rampant, some people even lost their lives which no government can give back. At all times, we would ensure that we provide for the benefit of the greatest majority of the people at all times”.

On efforts to boost power generation nationwide, Governor Fashola revealed that he supported the privatization of the sector by the government at the centre while disclosing that his administration was going into partnership with a transformer manufacturing company that is billed to commence operations this September.

He added that the company would produce transformers, meters, cables, poles and other electrical accessories that will facilitate distribution of energy to homes and industries in the state.

Governor Fashola also said plans are underway to provide dedicated power supplies that would eliminate the multiplicity of generating sets being used at both the old and new state secretariat as well as in the Shomolu area of the state which is the home to different categories of printers.

Said he: “Shomolu area is the home and hub of the printing and publishing industry in Lagos state and therefore they need dedicated power line to sustain their business activities and contribute to the economic development of the state”.

Governor Fashola said through a sustained partnership with the private sector, the state has improved the security of life and property while also increasing the capacity of the police to effectively police and protect the water ways through provision of equipments.

“We have deployed a pilot programme of our CCTV which is presently covering the Central Business District (CBD) and some of the major roads linking the mainland. This is in addition to the creation of a 24 hours toll free emergency number for people in distress to make calls for rescue at any time of the day”, the Governor also said.

Governor Fashola recalled that last December was the first festivity in three years that the state would not record any case involving the killing of Police officers in the state.

The Governor also assured Lagosians that the problem of potable water would soon be solved as soon as the 12 micro water schemes under construction all over the state are completed.

He added that: “Each one of them would supply two million gallons of water per day through five kilometers of pipelines for distribution to homes. They will also be powered by dedicated power plants.’’

Governor Fashola added that the Victoria Island and Epe axis of the State would be linked together for easy pipeline reticulation, concessioning and metering as part of efforts to ensure that pipe borne water goes round the State.