…As Kwara gov, other praise Tinubu
By Lukman Olabiyi
The Lagos State government has commissioned another overpass bridge in Ikeja area of the state.
The latest commissioning is the fourth overpass bridge for the Red Line project.
The tape-cutting ritual for the commissioning was performed by the governor of Kwara State, Mr AbdulRahman AbdulRasak
Who was the special guest of honour for the event .
The Ikeja overpass bridge is one of the five overpass bridges being put in place and fourth to be commissioned, in preparation for the Lagos Rail Mass Transit line (Red Line) billed for launching in the first quarter of 2024.
In his keynote address at the commissioning ceremony, which was held at Oyingbo, on Tuesday afternoon, governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the Red Line billed for launching in the first quarter of 2024, will be inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who happened to be former governor of the state.
Sanwo-Olu commended visionary leadership of President Tinubu for conceptualising the roadmap for the project.
He said: “Today, we stand in the shadow of our visionary President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who, in January 2002 signed into law the Act creating the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and got it operationalized following its launch on 2nd December 2003. “Just a few days ago, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of an institution that has been in the forefront of giving a face to our transport vision through the implementation of a transport infrastructure that addresses the peoples’ needs in line with the State’s Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP).
“Just about three years ago, we gave our words on the implementation of two rail lines, the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue and Red lines. Today, the first phase of the Blue Line is already in operation, giving a lot of reliefs to those using its corridor of operations.
“The infrastructure we are commissioning today is one of the five overpass bridges we planned for the Red Line alignment. To date, this will be the fourth to be commissioned leaving only the Mushin overpass bridge”.
The special guest of honour for the event, Governor AbdulRasaki also showered encomium on Tinubu’s leadership style saying, development is a process, not a destination.
He congratulated all Lagosians and encouraged them to continue to give support for governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
Also speaking at the event, Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, Managing Director/CEO Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), said the Red Line, when opened for passenger operations, will tremendously improve the state GDP.
” The entire 37-kilometre Red line is expected to move more than one million passengers daily when fully operational. This train line will reduce congestion, emission and facilitate easy movement for commuters and goods”, she said