Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, on Monday, flagged off the World Bank-assisted Lagos State Rail Mass Transit project at the Orile tanker terminal on Lagos-Badagry Expressway, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The project, which is being executed by a Chinese firm, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), has a completion deadline of five years.
On the occasion, Fashola expressed joy that the project, first conceived by the Second Republic UPN government in the state, had become a reality.
“This project which was attempted 30 years ago but was truncated has finally taken off.
“The project when completed, will transform rail transportation in the state and bring a lot of relief to the people,’’ said Fashola, who was represented by the Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Agency (LAMATA), Dr Tayo Mobereola.
Fashola promised that the government would ensure that the rail project which started a year ago, was completed on schedule.
The Deputy Manager, CCECC, Mr Shi Hongbing, promised that the project would be completed within the stipulated period.
Hongbing said: “The CCECC Nigeria promises to perform its best for the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Project having been tested and found capable in other areas of construction.’’
The project’s engineering consultant, Mr Robert Searth, told NAN that the project, which is in two phases, would require such time to complete because of the elevation of the rail tract from Marina to Orile-Iganmu.
He said that the project, which would cost more than $500 million, would include the construction of a bridge to connect Lagos Island with other parts of the metropolis.
Searth said that the construction of rail tracks from Iddo to Okokomaiko would take three years to complete while the Iddo-Marina axis would take two years.
Lagos Rail Mass Transit website
News Agency of Nigeria
May God bless Fashola. In him i believe we still good and commited men in Nigeria.
BRF is just a great gift to Lagos state. I wish he will also play another role for Nigeria after his 2nd term. May God continue to give you strength.
Good leader… Good thinking… Good product!!! Eko o ni baje o.
HA, ha, ha, Fashola, ha Fash, God almighty father will continue to bless you and your family, this is joy for me, this is what Alhaji Jakande a man with good foresight, and full of ideas wanted to do years back, but due to some of our leaders stupidity and so call useless brainless, NPN, shagari party they fraustrate Jakande that time.Iam happy that Iam going to withness this project in my life before I die. Fash, you are really son of your father and son of lagos, continue to do your good work, and I know you are full of ideas, you have beatiful mind. Your name is already written in gold.Please make sure no any all this beggers allowed, no any destitude is allow to board the train when start to operate. All this people they bring dirty into the train, and also there must be enough security around both inside and out side. Infact, this is just wonderfull, it show you have travel a lot and see beutiful things with you eyes unlike other leaders, that dont use their eyes for beutiful things.You are just exceptional, and please after completion I want you to invite Jakande to open it.At times I do think that some lagosian dont appreciate all what Jakande did in lagos and also Mudashiru that build very strong good school buildings in lagos. Jankande was the one who eradicate night soil men in lagos and build sokeaway free for all lanlords in lagos, he also stop paying of drinking water inlagos, Jakande says drinking water should be free. VIVA LAGOS, VIVA FASH.
FASHOLA ,EKO ONIBAJE O! PLS ALLOW NIGERIAN IN DIASPORA TO HANDLE THE RAIL PROJECT O . WE HAVE RAILWAY ENGINEERS DOING WELL IN EUROPE. A NIGERIAN -CANADIAN JUST SECURED A RAIL CONTRACT IN IRAG JUDE .WELLDONE O .BRAIN DRAIN TO BRAIN GAIN.