By Othuke Evroh
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has re-emphasised that democracy is about the people and that when people are put as the central focus of vision and planning, they would realise the value of democracy.
Tinubu made these remarks at the commissioning of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line Project Phase 1 on Thursday, at Ikeja, Lagos state.
The President said that his administration is focused on the people and ready to fight corruption and smuggling ”to ruin” even though it will fight back.
”I agree smugglers will fight back, corruption will fight back…. we will fight them to ruin”. He said.
”One thing I know is that there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel. Corruption will go away. We will save the money for you; to educate our children, to pay for the healthcare system of our people and to pay for modern transport systems”.
The President also declared that there is no going back on the reforms executed by his administration since assumption of office.
”The fight is on, we are not looking back. This economy, we will grow it; we will feed ourselves out of the penury and we will be happy that we did it”.
”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 asked for this job, I cannot complain, it is all about democracy. These reforms that are ongoing, we are not looking back because it is all about the people”, he stated.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also stated that the commissioning of the Red Line Project marked the realization of a vision he had 25 years ago as governor of the state.
H.E. Cui Jianchun, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria in his goodwill message stated that the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line Project is a people centred project and that both countries must continue to partner together for the economic growth of Nigeria.
”This Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line Project is a people’s project and will enhance the economic growth, development and prosperity of Lagos state and Nigeria at large”.
”We must continue to work in the areas of infrastructure, Industrialization and ICT. We must also ensure economic cooperation and People to People communication”, he stated.
Ambassador H.E. Cui Jianchun also expressed his profound gratitude to the Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Chairman of CCECE, Mr. Jason Zhang for working assiduously to ensure that this laudable project becomes a reality.
The Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu in his address stated that the vision of the project was developed 20 to 22 years ago when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu created the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority(LAMATA), when he was Governor of Lagos state.
”After about a decade of stalled progress on the LRMT Red Line Project, this administration resuscitated the project in 2020 as one of the flagships of the administration’s ‘THEMES’ agenda during Governor Sanwo-Olu’s first term in office”.
The Governor further stated that the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line Project is a 37-km rail route from Agbado to Marina with stations at Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, Oyingbo, Iddo, Ebute Ero and Marina.
”The Red line Project will not only ease human and vehicular movements in the state, but also open up the gates to economic development and prosperity to the state”.
”The Red Line is using the International Standard Gauge(1435mm) and is expected to carry 250,000 passengers daily at inception and 750,000 when fully operational. This I strongly believe will bring economic prosperity to Lagos state”
The Governor concluded his address by commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the good reforms he has embarked on since assumption into office.
”Mr. President, Lagosians cannot thank you. Nigeria is on a journey and you are leading that journey. We are proud to identify with you, we are happy with the strides you have taken, we are happy with how you are leading this country. But for us in Lagos, we believe you, you have done it here before, we can attest to it, we can show, we can demonstrate it and I want to say to you that all of your audacious pronouncements, all of your giant steps that you have taken, God will give you the help and the ability to take it to the final conclusion”.
The event also witnessed the signing of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line Project Phase 2, by the Chairman of CCECC, Mr. Jason Zhang and the Managing Director/CEO LAMATA, Engr. Mrs Abimbola Akinajo.
Meanwhile, at the Ikeja station where the project was commissioned, Lagosians and non-Lagosians alike are already commenting on the benefits of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line Project Phase 1.
Engr Joseph Akinpelu, Head of Rail Operations, LAMATA commented thus;
”This project is Lagos state Baby. This project has shown that the Lagos state government is serious in making transportation easier for the people, connectivity much more comfortable. Concerning the Red Line project, the Governor has put his mouth where his money is in the sense that the Governor started this project about three years ago and now we are commissioning it. This project is going to bring a lot of comfort to people in Oyingbo and Agbado, particularly the people in Agbado, Agege and Yaba because they can now sleep well in their houses. Before now, people in these areas leave their houses before 4:am in the morning. Traffic congestion will reduce, the pressures on the road will reduce and people will be able to move from Ogun state to Lagos state comfortably and seamlessly. This project is laudable and Kudos to LAMATA and the Lagos state government”.
When asked about the quality of the project as constructed by CCECC, Engr Joseph Akinpelu responded thus;
”CCECC is a very wonderful partner to Nigeria and also to Lagos state. They were also the company that constructed the Blue Line and from the quality of their work, you can see that it is of very good quality and they have also made construction easier for Lagos state. So, I can say that CCECC is a good partner. CCECC has done a lot of work in Lagos state, so I can say CCECC thank you for doing this to Lagos state, thank you for your work in Nigeria”.
Engr. Joseph Akinpelu also recommended CCECC and Chinese partners for other Rail projects like the Green Line, Yellow Line and others that are coming up in the future.
”Definitely like I said, CCECC has stood out as a partner to Lagos state and so far so good, we do not have any reason to choose any other company because they have been consistent and wonderful”.
Similarly, Mrs. Joy Achimedua stated that the project is a people’s project. ”This project will bring succour to Lagosians. It is the people’s project”.
”Thank God for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and CCECC, Mr. Bode Niyi”, declared.
Mr. Lucas the site engineer stated that despite the initial challenges of bringing heavy duty equipment such as the Cranes to site, they have finally seen the completion of phase 1 of the project.
” We had a pocket of challenges but we are all happy that we have completed phase 1 of this project. This project will ease and aid the free flow of people and goods in Lagos state”.
The Deputy Project Manager, Andy Chang also declared that this project executed by CCECC will boost the economic lives of the people of Lagos and Ogun states.
The event was attended by serving governors from across Nigeria, government functionaries of Lagos state and eminent personalities from all walks of life including; the Consul General of Sweden, Ghana and the United States.
