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Lagos Red Line Rail Project Nears Completion
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State Government has assured residents that the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT), also known as the red line project, would be completed soon.
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Gboyega Akosile, said the transport infrastructure being developed by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) will have the capacity to transport over 500,000 passengers daily when it becomes operational in the first quarter of next year.
The Lagos red line rail will traverse on the standard gauge from Agbado to Oyingbo, in the first phase, while terminating at Iddo in the second phase. It has eight stations and it is expected to reduce travel by over two hours.
Mr Sanwo-Olu, joined on the project tour by the Deputy Governor, Mr Obafemi Hamzat, and members of the cabinet, first stopped at the multi-level Agege Terminal, where he inspected completion work on the facility.
The Agege Red Line terminal shares the same yard with Babatunde Raji Fashola Station built by the federal government but stands about 300 metres apart.
The Governor also inspected the staff quarters built by the Lagos Government for the railway workers in employment by the federal government.
Mr Sanwo-Olu, thereafter, led the team to the iconic Ikeja Station of the Red Line, where 80 per cent of the civil work had been complete where he checked the progress of the overpass being constructed on the Awolowo Way axis to ensure non-interference of vehicular movement on the rail passageway.
The Governor stopped at Mushin terminal, to inspect the station and overpass, which stretches between Kayode and Ogunmokun streets, being developed there, before proceeding to Yaba and Oyingbo stations.
After the exercise that lasted for four hours, Mr Sanwo-Olu expressed satisfaction on the quality of the work done, disclosing that most of the difficult tasks had been completed.
The entire construction, the Governor said, has moved into the finishing phase in which precast beams and other concrete fittings are being coupled to the constructed structures.
He said: “The Red Line is a project conceived and started by our Government, which will be delivered in the lifetime of this administration. We have given our commitment to ensure the project is completed by the end of this year as promised. This is our fourth inspection trip on this project within the year alone and each time we come, there is significant progress that the contractor achieves along the rail corridor.
“Along the rail corridor, there is massive regeneration that is taking place and we have paid an extensive amount in terms of compensation, far more than anyone else, for those affected by the construction activities. That is why we don’t have problems with members of the communities on this corridor. After inspecting the Agege station, we went on to check the Ikeja terminal, which happens to be the iconic station of the Red Line. Its size is almost about the size of three football fields together.
“As we have seen, all the stations inspected are at the roof level, moving into the completion stage. The civil work has been completed, it’s just the finishing job we are doing at the moment. All the activities are on schedule and we are hoping the best entire project will be completed by the end of the year. There are places that were particularly challenging for the contractor to do drilling due to high vehicular density. All the challenges have been overcome; what is left is concrete in-situ and placing of precast beams.”
Mr Sanwo-Olu said the construction work on the overpasses was at different stages of completion but assured that all work would be done by December.
He said the work on the bridge on Awolowo Way onto Agege Motor Road and inward Mongoro Bus Stop remained on track and would finish by the end of October.
Mr Sanwo-Olu said the Mushin overpass, which crosses from Kayode Street at Ikorodu Road to Agege Motor Road in Mushin, and the one at Yaba from Tejuosho exiting onto Murtala Muhammed Road would be completed by November.
To eliminate human interference with the rail corridor, the Governor said the rail passageway would be walled off the residential areas. This, he said, would also prevent encroachment and unapproved commercial activities around the corridor.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
In order to tackle the constant harassment of motorists by security operatives over the use of tinted windows in the country, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has resumed the issuance of tinted glass permit.
In a statement by its spokesman on Wednesday, Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police said motorists can now apply for the permit via a digital platform designed to make the process seamless.
The reactivation of the permit system is a strategic move to identify lawful users such as individuals with medical requirements or members of the security community while preventing misuse for criminal activities. It is expected to enhance police investigative capabilities and strengthen national security efforts.
It was disclosed that the secure and user-friendly digital platform for the application of the permit, www.possap.gov.ng, was approved by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun.
According to the statement, this new system is for a clear, transparent, and accountable process for regularizing factory-fitted tinted glass on vehicles.
With modern automobiles increasingly manufactured with tinted windows, the police said it has become essential to provide a standardized system that accommodates legitimate use while ensuring public safety.
Tinted vehicles have often been exploited for criminal purposes, including kidnapping, armed robbery, one-chance scams, and other forms of banditry.
Their use hampers police visibility and impedes effective law enforcement, thereby contributing to public insecurity.
To ensure a smooth transition, a 30-day grace period has been approved, effective from May 1, 2025, within which motorists are expected to comply. Enforcement will commence at the end of this period.
Mr Egbetokun warned that officers found engaging in unprofessional conduct such as extortion or harassment in the course of enforcement would be decisively dealt with in accordance with extant disciplinary procedures.
Vehicle owners with tinted glasses have been advised to process their permits online, with identity verification integrated through the National Identification Number (NIN) and Tax Identification Number (TIN), alongside biometric capture and background checks.
The system also features QR-coded digital permits, with a streamlined processing timeline of 72 hours.
The IGP reiterated the agency’s commitment to a technologically driven and citizen-focused policing strategy. He urges the public to embrace the initiative in the interest of safer roads, enhanced public trust, and a more secure Nigeria.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Craneburg EKSG Motorway Company Plc, in collaboration with InfraCredit, has officially signed the final documents for its N32.5 billion 20-Year 22 per cent Fixed Rate Senior Guaranteed Infrastructure Bond issuance.
The signing ceremony, which took place in Lagos, had representatives from guarantor, the issuing houses, legal advisers, and capital market operators in attendance.
The proceeds from this successful issuance will be used to finance the Phase 1 construction of a 17.84km dual carriageway toll road in Ekiti State.
This project forms part of a broader 68km road network designed to unlock intra-state mobility, enhance logistics, and attract private capital into sub-national infrastructure delivery.
The purpose of funding and constructing, as well as the operation and maintenance of the 68km ring road in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State is under a design, build, finance, operate, maintain and transfer (DBFOM) concession 20-year arrangement.
Commenting on the development, the Chairman of Chairman of Craneburg Construction Company, Mr Femi Edun, said: “We are honoured by the trust placed in us by the Ekiti State Government to deliver this transformative project under the innovative Annuity PPP Product.
“The product framework has been instrumental in mobilising long-term domestic capital that enables us to sustainably finance and execute this much-needed infrastructure project.
“As a company recognised for quality and timely delivery, we are committed to ensuring that this project sets a new benchmark for infrastructure development at the sub-national level.”
Also commenting, Managing Director of the lead issuing house, Anchoria Advisory Services Limited, Mr Sam Chidoka, said: “This transaction is a testament to what’s possible when innovation, strong governance, and private sector capital come together in service of national development.
“We are proud to have led the structuring and execution of this landmark bond issuance, the first of its kind in Nigeria’s debt capital market and proud of what it represents, a scalable blueprint for funding an infrastructure project through the capital markets.”
Anchoria Advisory Services Limited served as lead issuing house and bookrunner, supported by Coronation Merchant Bank, Greenwich Merchant Bank, and Iron Global Markets Limited as joint issuing houses.
According to a statement, the firm said the landmark transaction sets a replicable precedent for infrastructure financing across Nigeria, paving the way for future PPP-backed issuances where the private sector leads execution, risk sharing is institutionalized, and development is market-driven.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State government has expressed concerns over the growing number of rickety vehicles operating on Lagos roads, saying they pose a risk to commuters and road users in the cosmopolitan city.
The government, through Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), has advised Lagosians to be vigilant and avoid boarding rickety public vehicles known as danfos.
The Director of the agency, Mr Akin-George Fashola, said reassured members of the public that impounded rickety vehicles would not be released for further use.
In a statement via the Lagos Ministry of Transportation on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Fashola said the vehicles, including one he personally apprehended, were in extremely poor condition, describing them as poorly maintained, with outdated parts and lacking essential safety features essentially ticking time bombs on Lagos roads.
He emphasized that rickety vehicles have been linked to numerous accidents in the state, often resulting in loss of lives, injuries, and property damage.
Further highlighting the dangers, Mr Fashola pointed out several critical issues common among the seized vehicles: unstable tires due to expiration, potential brake failure caused by makeshift repairs, and disjointed body compartments weakened by rust all of which render them unfit for commercial use.
He noted that many of these vehicles operate mostly at night, further increasing the risks to unsuspecting passengers, urging the public to prioritize safety by avoiding any vehicle that appears to be in a deteriorated condition.
He added that the VIS is working closely with relevant stakeholders, including road transport unions, to ensure Lagos roads remain safe for all users, encouraging members of the public to report any sightings or experiences with rickety vehicles via the VIS complaint platforms at info@dvis.lg.gov.ng, or through the Ministry of Transportation hotlines: 09020004000 and 09020009000.
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