President to commission Lagos Redline train on Thursday

President Bola Tinubu is expected in Ondo State today for a condolence visit to the family of the late governor, Rotimi Akeredolu. Already, there are fears the intense jostle for who flies the flag of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship election coming up later this year may overshadow the private solemn visit.

During his visit, President Tinubu is expected to meet with Afenifere leader Pa Reuben Fasoranti at his residence in Akure before proceeding to the family home of the Akeredolus in Owo.

It is not clear if the President will meet with the party leaders in the state ahead of the party’s primary in April. Already, the party’s governorship aspirants have mobilised their supporters across the state to welcome the President at the Akure airport. Buses have been hired while many hotels in the state capital have been booked ahead of the visit.

It was gathered that governorship aspirants of the party were last night busy meeting with their supporters in a bid to outshine one another during the president’s visit.

Ahead of the visit, a video circulated on the social media yesterday showing the Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in a private audience with Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, daughter of President Tinubu last weekend at the government house in Akure. Sources said the meeting between the governor and the President’s daughter was to enable her persuade her father to support him in the coming party’s primary. Other aspirants include Olusola Oke, Muyiwa Akinfolarin, Wale Akinterinwa, Jimoh Ibrahim, Jimi Odimayo, and Isaac Kekemeke.

MEANWHILE, the President will commission the Red Line train in Lagos on Thursday. The train is the first phase of the project, which will run from Agbado in Ogun State to Oyingbo in the heart of Lagos. The train, when fully operational, will run 37 trips and convey about 500,000 passengers daily.

According to Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner for Information & Strategy,the commissioning will signal the take-off of another major game changer in the state’s transportation infrastructure. It brings to two the rail lines owned and operated by the Lagos State Government. The first, the Blue Line, runs from Marina to Mile 2.

The first phase of the Red Line has eight stations: Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba and Oyingbo. The train will reduce drastically travel time on the corridor, abate stress-induced health challenges and increase the productive capacity of the state. It will also reduce traffic gridlock, road accidents and ensure the safety of commuters.

“As part of the inter-modal connectivity of our public transportation infrastructure, the Redline is integrated with Bus Terminals at Ikeja, Oshodi, Oyingbo, Ikeja, Yaba and Iju. To guarantee the safety of commuters and Lagosians, the rail corridor has 10 vehicular overpasses and pedestrian bridges to separate the train from vehicular and pedestrian traffic.”