Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday flagged off the commercial operations of the Lagos Red Line rail, marking a significant milestone in the state’s transportation infrastructure.
The commencement of commercial operations comes seven months after the completion and commissioning of the rail infrastructure. At exactly 5:20 p.m., the inaugural train departed from Platform 2 at Oyingbo Station, heading towards Agbado.
Sanwo-Olu, who arrived at the station at 5:00 p.m., was accompanied on the inaugural ride by members of the state cabinet, lawmakers, corporate executives, journalists, and members of the public.
The train made stops at Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, and Ikeja stations, where the governor and his entourage disembarked. The journey from Oyingbo to Ikeja took approximately 34 minutes.
Speaking to journalists at the Ikeja station, Sanwo-Olu described the experience as “smooth and outstanding,” noting the significant reduction in commuting time.
He remarked, “This is an experience that we believe will not only help in solving issues around public transportation in Lagos, but will also improve connectivity and reduce the journey time for commuters in traversing the city. From here in Ikeja, the train proceeds to Agege before finally halting in Agbado.
“The general public can now feel what we have done in mass transportation. We have fulfilled our promises, especially on the Red Line, just as we did on the Blue Line. From this evening, there will be regular scheduled train services from Agbado to Oyingbo and back.”
He also announced that additional rolling stocks for the Red Line are expected to arrive next year, which will enhance the service’s speed and capacity.
The Red Line rail covers a distance of 37 kilometers, extending from Agbado to Marina and featuring 13 stations: Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, MMIA International, MMIA Domestic, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, Ebute-Metta, Iddo, Ebute Ero, and Marina.
The first phase of the infrastructure was commissioned by President Bola Tinubu in February and covers 27 kilometers with eight stations at Oyingbo, Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege, Iju, and Agbado.
Once fully operational, the rail line is expected to carry 500,000 passengers daily, equivalent to 3.5 million passengers weekly and 15 million monthly.