The Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2023 election, Funso Doherty, has asked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to explain the role of the Federal Government in the proposed Lagos Green Line rail project.

In a letter dated September 21, 2024 and addressed to Sanwo-Olu, which was sighted by The Guardian, Doherty questioned the governor on how the state intends to manage long-term risks regarding the project with Federal Government’s involvement.

“Considering the deep embedding of the Federal Government in a project that is vital to Lagos State, how does the state government plan to mitigate any future risks, especially beyond the current administration?” he queried.

Doherty stated that it is important for Sanwo-Olu to explain to Lagos residents if the MoU is binding or exploratory, adding that if it is binding, the process through which CHEC was selected as the vendor should be detailed.

He said: “The definitive language used in the statement and the elaborate signing ceremony, with large delegations on both sides, suggest a binding commitment. If the MoU is merely exploratory and non-binding, the public may be misled by such fanfare.”

“If the agreement is binding, through what process was CHEC selected as the vendor? Transparency is essential, especially for a project of this scale. Were any other vendors given the opportunity to bid competitively for this service?”

Doherty, who joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently, noted that these questions are critical, “particularly in light of LASG’s track record” with mass transit rail projects.