President Tinubu inaugurates Lagos Red Line Rail, flies to Qatar

By OUR REPORTER, Lagos

President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated the Red Line Rail Project in Lagos. The project, an intra-state rail service is aimed at improving transportation within the city, spans 37 kilometres.

In inaugurating the project, the President reiterated his administration’s commitment in improving on the nation’s infrastructural development.

He also said there is no going back on the reforms embarked upon by his government that have led to the hike of essential goods and services.

“But this revolution that has started, this reform that is ongoing, we are not looking back. The engineering, the construction, the affirmation of our pledge to be loyal to our country. There is one thing I know is that there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

After coming to office last year President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ended a fuel subsidy and currency controls, leading to a tripling of petrol prices and a spike in living costs as the naira has slid against the dollar.

The country’s inflation rate reached almost 30 per cent in January, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The President admitted that while the current administration makes an effort to fight corruption, the scourge will fight back.

He said, “We said we can do it, you believed in us. We said the people’s lives will end up being better, you believed in us. I could hear a lot of voices right now, I asked for this job, I cannot complain, it’s all about democracy.

“I agree smugglers will fight back, corruption will fight back. We will fight them to ruin. Corruption will go away, save the money for you to educate our children, to pay for the healthcare system of our people, to pay for the modern transportation system that works for highest number of people, not those few smugglers.”

The red line will share the right-of-way with the Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge Railway. The route will initially run from Agbado in Ogun State to Oyingbo in Lagos, with notable stations including Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo.

The President had flown into the state on Wednesday for the event.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said that the commissioning of the Lagos Red Line project isn’t just about improving the city’s mobility, but about reshaping the urban landscape and setting a new pace for development.

In a brief statement on X (formerly Twitter), the Lagos State governor also noted that by connecting critical points across Lagos, “we’re opening doors to opportunities, growth, and a sustainable future”.

The governor had on Saturday carried out a test run of the Lagos Red Line ahead of today’s commissioning of the project by President Bola Tinubu.

He further asserted that the commissioning of the LMRT Red Line is more than just a project, adding that it is “a generational leap for our city”.

The Red Line is a 37 km rail line integrating key bus terminals at Oyingbo, Yaba, Oshodi, Ikeja, and Iju.

“This launch is a testament to what we can achieve when we dream big and work together. The LMRT Red Line is a cornerstone in our journey to make Lagos a global model city for urban excellence.

“Let’s ride into a brighter, more connected future together,” the governor charged Lagosians and all Nigerians who live and do business within the Lagos metropolis.

The Red Line Rail Project in Lagos, Nigeria, represents a significant infrastructure development aimed at improving transportation within the city.

There are several key aspects worth noting. Our correspondent, Dare Idowu, provides some insights into the new rail line to be commissioned by President Bola Tinubu.

The Red Line is envisioned as a vital metro link within the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor. Spanning 37 kilometres, it will share the right-of-way with the Lagos–Kano Standard Gauge Railway.