The first phase of a light rail system that is set to transform commuting in Nigeria’s economic capital, has been commissioned. It traverses five stations covering a distance of 13 km and has the capacity to move 250,000 passengers daily. The state government said that it had taken delivery of three sets of wagons that will be used for passenger operations. The governor revived the project as part of the state’s development agenda. The Blue Line is one of six rail lines and one monorail, 14 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors, over 20 water routes, and a number of major new roads that are part of a strategic transport master plan developed by the Bola Tinubu administration in 2005. Construction work for the Blue Line rail project began in 2010. However, funding issues and neglect by successive administrations stalled the delivery of the project, which is now being financed solely by the state. Once complete the 27 km rail system is expected to carry more than 500,000 passengers. According to the governor, passenger operations will commence once the line has been fully tested. The construction of an Independent Power Project is already underway to ensure that the rail system runs on its own power grid.
SOURCE: QUARTZ AFRICA