As part of his transformation of Lagos State, especially in the area of rail transport in a fast-growing Lagos, former Governor of Lagos State, late LKJ, in 1983, initiated Lagos Metroline Network. The project was underway before it was stopped and scrapped in 1985 by the military government of Muhammadu Buhari.
In 2003, Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Governor of Lagos State came up with the idea of a light rail network, reviving what LKJ started. To make a reality of the rail project, Tinubu developed the Strategic Transport Master Plan which established Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA). The agency initially concentrated on developing a Bus Rapid System, running from Mile 12 to Lagos Island. LAMATA was to later begin to make considerable progress on rail project in 2008, with a focus on the Blue Line and the Red Line. Four other light rail transit lines – yellow, purple, green and orange – were in the pipeline.
In 2008, Fashola administration approved #70 Billion for the construction of Okokomaiko-Iddo-Marina Blue Line with an estimated completion date of 2011. The project could not be completed at the stipulated period due mainly to funding.
As part of Lagos State Strategic Transport Master Plan initiated by BAT, Fashola constructed BRT lanes and bought buses to ease transport challenges being faced by Lagosians. Though former Governor Ambode could not do anything on the rail project, he went on to construct modern parks at strategic locations to ease movements of commercial vehicles in the State. It’s part of the strategic master plan.
Enter Sanwoolu! In keeping to BAT’s strategic master plan on rail transportation in Lagos, Sanwoolu launched the commencement of the Red Line project, spanning 37km North-South rail route from Agbado to Marina, having proposed 12 stations in Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, Ebute Metta, Iddo and others.
As we speak, Lagos State under Babajide Sanwoolu just acquired two new speed trains for its 37km intracity Red Line metro project. When completed, the 37km Red Line will wind through eight stations, moving passengers from Agbado to Oyingbo.
This worthwhile transport system is what Asiwaju Tinubu bequeathed to Lagos. As a mega city, Lagos needs a functional rail system for every day movements of its teeming, rampaging population.
The era between 1999 to 2007 when BAT governed Lagos and established a solid foundation for a thriving mega state in all spheres of governance was what one Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo, called Dr Damages, referred to as ‘abysmal’ in his article entitled ‘How Tinubu Lost 2023 Election’! Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo is from Anambra State and from the available records, Anambra State was ruled by Chinwoke Mbadinuju, PDP, 1999-2003, and Chris Ngige, PDP, 2003-2006. How prosperous was Anambra during the same era when only BAT governed Lagos and Mbadinuju and Ngige governed Anambra? To date, Andy Uba, Virgy Etiaba, Peter Obi and Willie Obiano, added to Mbadinuju and Ngige have all governed Anambra and the state remains one of the worst states in the South East. Even, that Anambra’s Governor of Chinese example, Chinko Peter Obi, could not conjure China magic in Anambra while his tenure lasted. Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo has a lot of ‘Damage’ Control to do, using his column on Saharareporters and Dr Damages TV show, to rescue his State from misgovernment characterizing it since 1999.
Who will tell Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo that his obsession with BAT and Lagos is misplaced?
If it means that a state has to be sold to its governor to experience such resounding prosperities as Lagos, isn’t it better for state governors to sell their states to themselves? And, since Lagos State has become the evolving success it is, shouldn’t we rather sell Nigeria to BAT?
