The Lagos State Government has announced that the Red Line train, once fully operational, will have the capacity to transport between 100,000 and 150,000 passengers each day. This significant development is part of the state’s broader efforts to reduce traffic congestion and improve public transportation.
In an exclusive interview on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Olawale Musa, shared details about the Red Line’s potential impact on the city’s transportation system.
“The Red Line, when fully operational, will greatly ease the menace of traffic in the state,” Musa said.
The Red Line is part of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit system, managed by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA). It runs across a 27-kilometer stretch, connecting various key areas from Agbado in Ogun State through Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and finally terminating at Oyingbo in Lagos State. This line is expected to be a game-changer in the daily commute for thousands of Lagosians.
While discussing the current status of the project, Musa explained that the Red Line is still in the test-running phase.
“We are just test-running the Red Line. It can accommodate 800 people, but because we are sharing the tracks with the Nigeria Railway Corporation, our speed and everything else have to be regulated by them,” he noted.
This regulation affects the number of trips the train can make daily, but Musa expressed optimism that these technicalities will be resolved soon.
The Red Line is being developed alongside the Blue Line, which is already operational. The Blue Line is an electric rapid transit service that can carry 1,000 passengers per trip and currently operates 72 trips daily. According to Musa, this service has already significantly reduced traffic in Lagos.
“The Blue Line is operational and removes a lot of people from the traffic every day,” he said.
In addition to the rail projects, the Lagos State Government is also focusing on improving road infrastructure across the city. Musa highlighted ongoing efforts to expand roads and regenerate junctions to further alleviate traffic issues.
“We are consolidating what was already on the ground. If you look around Lagos, you will see a lot of improvement, expansion of roads, and junction improvements. This is mainly to ensure that traffic congestion becomes a thing of the past,” he explained.
One of the major projects under this initiative is the construction of the Ọdọ Iya Alaro bridge, which is part of a larger plan to enhance traffic flow in the area. Musa assured residents that the government is committed to addressing the transportation needs of Lagos’s growing population.
“We are proactive and doing a lot. In Lagos, if you rest for a minute, it will be a problem because of the density of people coming into Lagos daily,” he concluded.
The Lagos State Government’s efforts to improve transportation infrastructure reflect its commitment to accommodating the city’s rapidly increasing population and ensuring a more efficient and less congested environment for all residents.