Lagos postpones commencement of light rail to 2022

The Lagos state Government said its Blue Light Rail project which will run between Mile 2 and Marina would commence operation in the next four years.

The rail project was initiated in 2009 and was expected to take off in 2011. However, in 2015, its completion date was postponed to 2017.

But according to a recent statement released by the Assistant Director, Corporate Communication at the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Kolawole Ojelabi, the light rail will now commence its operation in 2022.

Ojelabi noted that the state government had engaged the services of Alstom SA France to carry out a technical review and due diligence on the implementation of the project.

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He said the report on the project filed by the firm revealed that operation of the first phase could only commence in 2022.

“Following the report, Alstom SA France, who are experienced international railway systems aggregator and rolling stocks manufacturer, with over 100 years of railway experience covering 60 countries, was engaged to review the report of the consultant.

“Alstom SA agreed with the submission of the consultant that the first phase of the rail project could only become operational in 2022 based on proposed funding pattern,” the statement read.

According to the statement, the Managing Director of LAMATA, Abiodun Dabiri, who signed the budget on behalf of the state government, the work plan was divided into two phases.

“For this purpose, a track length of about 3.0 km from Iganmu Station to National Theatre will be electrified. This operation would be done with the rolling stocks already supplied for the Blue Line project.

“This phase would allow the completion of all the preliminary works that would lead to the financing of the main works in Phase two. Phase one will be fully financed by the Lagos state government through internally generated revenue (IGR).

“Phase two, which is expected to be completed in 39 months, would entail the provision and installation of railway operations’ systems for the project from Marina to Mile 2 and the delivery of a passenger-ready Lagos Blue Rail Line by 2022,” Dabiri said.

 

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