Lagos Blue Line Rail to commence commercial operation in September

The Blue Rail Line inaugurated by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during the commemoration of completion ceremony for the First Phase of Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line (Marina – Mile 2), at the National Theatre Blue line station, Iganmu…yesterday. (INSET: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat (left); Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Abimbola Akinajo; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Speaker of the State Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa at the event.)
The Lagos State Government has announced that the Blue Line Rail will commence commercial operations on Monday, September 4, 2023.
Jubril Gawat, a media aide to Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday said that the Blue Line Rail will move from Marina to Mile 2.
“Governor of Lagos State, Mr @jidesanwoolu is expected to be the first passenger at exactly 9:00 am at the Marina Station,” Gawat wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
He added that from Tuesday, September 5, partial passenger operations will start from 6:30 am to 10:00 am (Morning peak) with the afternoon peak, from 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm.
These operations will start with 12 trips for two weeks which will be ramped up to 76 trips per day.
According to Gawat, a full journey from Marina to Mile 2 will cost N750 while zonal fares will be between N400 and N500 (for people not making the complete full trip).
He added that the transportation palliative announced by governor Sanwo-Olu will also cover the train system, meaning that the highest fare for the full trip will be N375.
As for safety measures, Gawat disclosed that there will be over 300 CCTV cameras across the whole Blue Line Rail.
He said over 30 cameras will be monitoring the tracks alone even as command and control centers will be available in all stations.
Gawat also said that plain-clothed security agents and officers of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps will ride with passengers at all times as any altercation on the train will not be tolerated. Vandalism will also not be tolerated.

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.