Railway
Buhari to inaugurate Itakpe-Warri speed train on Tuesday
![](https://newstrends.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/President-Muhammadu-Buhari-1.jpg)
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Tuesday, September 29, inaugurate the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line, Nigeria’s first standard gauge train
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria, said on Sunday that the President would not be physically present at the event but would conduct the inauguration virtually.
He said Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi would lead other members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as well as other government functionaries to the event.
He said the inauguration would take place at the Goodluck Jonathan Train Station at Agbor, from where the guests would take a short train ride to Abraka and back to Agbor, to signify the inauguration of the train and beginning of commercial operation on the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri corridor.
The Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri is Nigeria’s flagship and first standard gauge train, as its construction commenced in 1983 (37 years ago) as an industrial line.
![](https://newstrends.ng/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/newstrends-log2.png)
Railway
Lagos, Chinese firm sign MoU for Lekki-Ajah-VI rail construction
![](https://newstrends.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/MoU-signing-for-green-line-project-in-Lagos-e1725565523765.jpeg)
Lagos, Chinese firm sign MoU for Lekki-Ajah-VI rail construction
Lagos State Government is set to commence the construction of the Green Rail Line linking Victoria Island, Lekki and Ajah.
The state government, Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of the Green Line Rail.
The MoU, witnessed by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Olawale Edun, and key officials, was signed during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, China.
This partnership will see MOFI and CHEC provide the financing, design, operation, and maintenance of the Green Line, which will complement the already operational Blue and Red Lines, serving thousands of Lagos residents daily.
Speaking at the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted the transformative impact of the Green Line Rail, which will link major areas such as Victoria Island, Lekki, and Ajah.
“This historic MoU marks the beginning of an ambitious project that will redefine public transportation in Lagos,” said Sanwo-Olu.
“The Green Line, a 68km rail running from Lekki Free Zone to Marina, will connect with the Blue Line, linking key areas and revolutionizing our transport infrastructure.”
At launch, the rail line is expected to transport over 500,000 passengers daily, with capacity projected to rise to over a million as demand increases. According to the governor, the project aligns with the state’s Strategic Transport Masterplan, which aims to build a fast, efficient, and interconnected transport system.
Railway
Excitement as passengers begin free ride on new Lagos Red Rail Line
![](https://newstrends.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Picture3.jpg)
Excitement as passengers begin free ride on new Lagos Red Rail Line
The Lagos Mass Transit Red Line Rail on Wednesday commenced partial operations with non-fee-paying passengers riding.
Spokesperson for the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Kolawole Ojelabi, announced the start of the new train operations in a statement on Tuesday.
President Bola Tinubu commissioned the Red Line Rail Mass Transit project on February 29 this year, marking a significant milestone in the city’s transportation system.
According to LAMATA, the Red Line Rail is one of the six rail lines and one monorail prescribed for Lagos in her Strategic Transport Master Plan.
The trains will convey passengers free and run four daily trips between Oyingbo and Agbado.
It is also a transport project connecting Lagos with Ogun State, as many Lagos workers and business owners reside in Ogun.
Ojelabi said the milestone marked the culmination of planning and training of technical and ground staff; installation of all the security features, and a successful six-week trial run conducted without passengers to ensure the system’s safety, reliability, and efficiency.
“From Wednesday, August 28, the Red Line system will interact with non-fee-paying passengers in organised groups to collect feedback before the commencement of commercial operations.
“The partial operations, similar to what was done during the test phase of the Blue Line, is a major step forward in realising the Lagos State Government’s vision of a modern, efficient, integrated and sustainable transportation system.
“The Red Line’s first phase, a 27-kilometre rail road from Agbado to Oyingbo, will provide a reliable and affordable transportation option for commuters, reducing traffic congestion and improving the quality of life for Lagos residents,” Ojelabi said.
Railway
House committee on Land Transport tours NRC facilities, moves for railway unbundling
![](https://newstrends.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2Fstorage2Femulated2F02FMIUI2FGallery2Fcloud2F.cache2F.share2F.securityshare_temp_files2F1721569499133.png)
House committee on Land Transport tours NRC facilities, moves for railway unbundling
The House of Representatives is taking steps towards the unbundling of the Nigerian Railway Corporation to fully deregulate the industry and encourage more private sector investments.
Chairman, House Committee on Land Transport, Blessing Onuh, stated this on Friday after leading members of the committee on a visit of the NRC facilities on the Lagos corridor.
She spoke a few months after the railway development/management was moved from the exclusive legislative to concurrent list giving state governments powers to build and operate railway systems.
Onuh, daughter of the former Senate President Senator David Mark, who is representing the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, said a bill for the unbundling of the NRC was already before the House of Representatives.
“The unbundling will allow people to come in and develop the rail sector,” she noted.
She also said, “The bill has passed the first reading. Hopefully, it will be coming for second reading shortly.
“That bill is a proposed bill to unbundle the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to allow companies to come in; to allow private partnership (firms) to invest in the rail sector and that will enhance development.”
She said an effective railway transport system would enhance the socio-economic development of the country.
She stressed that the committee would provide the needed legislative support for the rail transport mode to thrive.
“Rail transport is very vital to the development of every nation. So, we need to encourage the railway transport sector,” she said.
Onuh said they were during the facility tour taken through the various units of train operations by the NRC Managing Director, Mr Fidet Okhiria and other management team, including the Alex Ekwueme Control Tower, before boarding the standard train at the Mobolaji Johnson Train Station in Lagos for a trip to Ibadan.
She said the team made a stopover at the Kajola Wagon Assembly Plant (KWAP), where the committee was informed that the facility was one of the Corporate Social Responsibility’s contributions by the Chinese contractors to the Nigerian government.
NRC MD Okhiria also spoke on the central control centre, saying it had not been activated due to unstable power supply, adding that efforts were underway to develop a stable energy source as well as a back-up energy to enable the control centre monitor everything happening on the entire railway corridor.
-
metro2 days ago
FUNAAB student Christiana Idowu murdered after abduction by colleague in Lagos
-
Business2 days ago
NNPC supplies 30m barrels of crude to Dangote
-
metro2 days ago
Killer of Ogun agric varsity student arrested in Lagos
-
metro3 days ago
Three domestic workers murder Ondo popular CEO
-
Politics2 days ago
Those trying to lure Peter Obi away from LP wasting their time – Senator Umeh
-
metro3 days ago
I shot my friend for sleeping with my girlfriend — Suspect
-
Education1 day ago
WAEC, NECO not restricted to 18 years — FG
-
Education1 day ago
40 additional institutions get student loans (+FULL LIST)
You must be logged in to post a comment Login