The Secretary to the Ogun state government, Tokunbo Talabi says his government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lagos state government to construct a 32km redline rail project. The red line rail project is the baby of the Lagos state government which initially was to terminate at the boundary between the two states.
With the MOU, many believe that the rail line will now be extended to parts of Ogun state.
“Many people work in Lagos and live in Ogun state. This synergy will go a long way to bring succor to residents of the two states, particularly those who live in Ogun, but struggle everyday to get to their work places,” a Lagos civil servant who live in Ogun state said.
Speaking on the MOU, the Ogun state SSG said the project when completed would run from Oyingbo in Lagos to Agbado in Ogun State.
Talabi explained that the passenger train would begin operations in the first quarter of 2023, adding that project was another significant achievement in the series of developments engendered by the Lagos/Ogun Joint Commission.
He added that the development was another achievement from the robust understanding and synergy between the governors of Lagos and Ogun States in taking advantage of their proximity to better their economies and the lives of their citizens.
He described the project as, “yet another testament of more initiatives to be undertaken by the joint commission.”
The SSG said, “the two states have the understanding that what benefits one, benefits the other and what brings convenience to one will mean the same for the other due to their close proximity. Integration of the transport system between the two states is highly probable for the benefits of both states.”
While pointing out that the transport system of any nation or state was critical to its civilisation, Talabi affirmed that Ogun State was committed to taking advantage of the sector to improve the livelihood of commuters and citizens alike in Ogun and Lagos
On his part, the Lagos state Commissioner for Transportation, L Dr. Frederick Oladeinde, explained that the redline rail project is 31km, the first phase of 25km stretch from Oyingbo to Agbado. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2022 while passenger operations would commence first quarter of 2023.
Oladeinde added that the two contiguous states will benefit from the project through employment generation, and investments rising up in the two corridors.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation, Gbenga Dairo, hinted that the Ogun state government intends to latch on to the initiative to extend train services beyond Agbado to other parts of the state such as Ijoko, Kajola among others.
According to him, “the two states are already taking advantage of the significant investment of the Federal Government through the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) along the Lagos/Ibadan standard guage railway infrastructure to ensure transportation is effective and efficient to serve the economic needs of Lagos and Ogun as the commercial nerve and industrial hub of the nation respectively.”
