Lagos Red Line Rail would soon be test-run for two months, says Commissioner

Gbenga Omotosho, Lagos State’s Commissioner of Information and Strategy, announced on Thursday that a two-month trial of the Red Line Rail would shortly begin.

At a press conference held at the Alausa Secretariat in Ikeja, Omotosho stated as much, restating the government’s resolve to improve the quality of life for the people living in the state.

After President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the red line on February 29, locals have been waiting for business to begin.

Agbado in Ogun State is reached by the 37 km rail line that connects the important bus terminals at Oyingbo, Yaba, Oshodi, Ikeja, and Iju.

The goal of Lagos, according to state governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is to recover nearly N4 trillion in lost work hours that its productive workforce misses due to traffic each year.

He said that the state was set to revolutionise commuter experiences while tackling challenges like traffic congestion and road safety.

Omotosho, while giving the update on the red line rail, said the Sanwo-Olu administration would shed more light on its development projects during its annual ministerial briefings beginning on April 23.

“With various ongoing projects across the state, it is evident enough that Mr governor has consistently delivered on his commitment towards the socio-economic development of residents.

“In the health sector, the construction of the Pediatric Hospital at Adeniji Adele has been rapid, also the Badagry General hospital is gradually taking shape.

“The Red Line Rail will soon be test run for two months.

“Our annual ministerial briefing will kickoff from April 23, to May 28; all ministries will give account of their stewardship in the last one year since our administration’s second term in office first year anniversary,” he said.

On the proposed intervention for teachers and health care workers who can’t work remotely, the commissioner said adequate compensation had been made for them.

“Yes, they are compensated; we understand the peculiarity of the job they do, nobody is left out of Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s welfare programme,” Omotosho said.

Recall that the government had given its workers some days to work from home, to reduce their financial burdens in the face of rising cost of living.

The arrangement could, however, not include some workers like teachers who had to be in school physically on every working day.