The Lagos Blue Line rail service started operations on Monday, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu taking the inaugural ride from Marina station to Mile 2 around 9 a.m.
He was joined by his wife Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat; the Secretary to the State Government Mrs. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, former Deputy Governor Femi Pedro; a former Speaker of the House of Assembly Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and other government officials.
The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority said that the train would run 12 trips for the first month using the locomotive system.
LAMATA Managing Director Abimbola Akinajo said the agency would switch to the electric-powered train operation with 76 trips. The train is expected to carry between 150,000 and 175,000 passengers daily from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m..
The governor also urged Lagosians to take care of the rail tracks as their own property and said that his government has installed measures to protect the facility.
He said: “There are over 300 CCTV cameras across the entire rail with over 30 cameras monitoring the tracks alone, with command and control centers available in all stations along the track. Lagos, this is your project.”
“Take ownership and treat it with decency as you would treat anything that belongs to you. Any altercation or disturbance on the train will NOT be tolerated. It goes without saying that vandalism also will NOT be tolerated.”
