Buhari inaugurates phase 1 of Lagos blue rail line

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday inaugurated the first phase of the Lagos Blue Rail Line, taking a ride from the Marina Station to National Theatre Station.

The President was aboard the trip with Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor of the State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, members of the Federal and State Executive Councils, members of the Federal and State Legislative Assemblies, President of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Chen Sichang and journalists, among others.

The first phase of the project, executed by the State Government, which spans 13 kilometers, has five stations - Mile 2, Suru-Alaba, Orile Iganmu, National Theatre and Marina.

President Buhari also witnessed the signing of the contract for the construction of second phase of the Lagos

Blue Rail Line by the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo and President of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Chen Sichang.

In his remarks, Governor Sanwo-Olu thanked the President for the State Visit to commission several landmark projects, noting that since 1999 the State has not enjoyed this level of support from the Federal Government.

On the benefits of the project, the Governor stated that it would reduce travel time, improve the quality of life of citizens and make Lagos one of the most resilient mega-cities in Africa that would compete favorably with other megacities around the world.

Sanwo-Olu hinted that he would invite the President again to Lagos to commission the Red Line, which he described as a bigger rail corridor project compared with the Blue Rail

Line.

‘‘This iconic Marina Station would be the largest and busiest in Africa. It has the capacity to process about 450 passengers per minute, meaning that in an hour this station can process about 25,000 passengers,’’ he said.

Hamzat, the Lagos Deputy Governor, traced the pioneering role of the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in envisioning and laying the foundation for the project, as governor of Lagos State.

‘‘Talking about the Blue line without making a reference to the ground-breaking contributions of the presidential candidate of our great party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is like talking about the beach without the ocean.

‘‘A visionary leader, Asiwaju Tinubu pioneered the idea of the Lagos Blue Line and many other revolutionary initiatives.

‘‘The Tinubu administration developed the Strategic

Transport Master Plan (STMP), which laid out the foundation for a network of robust and modern transport infrastructure befitting a 21st century City-State, such as ours.

‘‘The master plan has six rail lines and one monorail, 14 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors, over 20 water routes and a number of major roads.

‘‘Thanks to Asiwaju’s creative leadership, today, we are making history with the completion of this rail line,’’ he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Cui Jianchun said the completion of the first phase of the project is a demonstration of the harmony in the bilateral relations between Nigeria and China.

‘‘It is a harmony in integration, diversity, and development,’’ he said.

Earlier, before leaving Lagos for Dakar, Senegal, President Buhari also inaugurated John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, after which he toured the facility.

PICS..1 L-R: Minister of Defence, Major. Gen. Salihi Magashi (rdt), Governor of Plateau/Chairman of the Occasion, Barr. Simon Bako Lalong, Governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his Deputy/ APC governorship candidate, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and APC Deputy National North, Senator Abubakar Kyari, during the presentation of the APC Kano state governorship candidate and fundraising dinner, in Abuja yesterday.

L-R: Minister of Environment, Barr. Mohammed Abdullahi, Executive Secretary, Joint Tax Board, Mrs Nana- Aisha Obomeghie and the Implementation Engineer, National Vehicle Emission Control Programme, Engr. Adeyinka Adegbenro, during the official flag- off of the National Generator Emission Control Programme and the National Vehicular Emission Control Programme Organise by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), held on Monday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

2023: Ongoing Military operations across Nigeria will ensure peaceful polls —SEAG

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

Elated by the successes recorded by the Nigerian military in the country, a civil society organisation, the Socio-Economic Analysis Group (SEAG) said the ongoing military operation will ensure a peaceful 2023 polls.

The CSO in a statement issued on Monday indicated that its findings revealed that the military has significantly reduced the capacity of bandits, insurgents and other criminals to undermine the conduct of the general elections.

The statement issued by the Convener, Olatunde Morayo and

Co-coveners, Hajara Abubakar and Obidi Ifuko said it embarked on the study after a promise by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. LEO Irabor that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will work with the other security agencies to ensure peaceful conduct of the general elections.

“We discovered that the Armed Forces of Nigeria has continued to deepen its loyalty to the constitution of the country, while conducting in-house education for it’s personnel on the benefits of total respect and support for the democratic process.”

SEAG said it is now left for Nigerians to cooperate fully with the Armed Forces of Nigeria to ensure a peaceful transition process.

The statement said “SocioEconomic Analysis Group (SEAG) study of the situation was prompted by the promise made by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. LEO Irabor that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will fully support the democratic process to a logical conclusion.

“Though some skeptics wanted to raise dust where there is none, our study reveal that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is fully prepared for the elections.

“A critical study of the security situation reveal that we are winning the war in all the troubled spots. Using kinetic and non-kinetic approach, normalcy is gradually returning.

“Though there are still traces of the security challenges, but we say the capacity of the military to deal with them is not in doubt.

“We must give kudos to the Chief of Defence Staff for constantly reminding Nigerians that the AFN has fully keyed into the democratic process. It is indeed a morale booster and an assurance.

“SEAG urge Nigerians to support and cooperate the AFN and other security agencies to ensure a peaceful general election.”