Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has said there is no going back on the reforms embarked upon by his government that have led to the hike of essential goods and services in the country.
He made this known as he inaugurated the Red Line Rail Project in Lagos on Thursday.
The project, an intra-state rail service, is aimed at improving transportation within the city and spans 37 kilometres.
Speaking while inaugurating the project, the President reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving the nation’s infrastructural development.
He said, “But this revolution that has started, this reform that is ongoing, we are not looking back. The engineering, the construction, the affirmation of our pledge to be loyal to our country. There is one thing I know is that there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel.”
After taking over office in May 2023, President Tinubu ended a fuel subsidy and floated the Naira. Both of these policies led to a hike in petrol prices and a spike in living costs as the Naira has slid against the Dollar.
Mr Tinubu admitted that while the current administration makes an effort to fight corruption, the scourge will fight back.
He said, “We said we could do it, you believed in us. We said the people’s lives will end up being better, you believed in us. I could hear a lot of voices right now, I asked for this job, I cannot complain, it’s all about democracy.
“I agree smugglers will fight back, corruption will fight back. We will fight them to ruin. Corruption will go away, save the money for you to educate our children, to pay for the healthcare system of our people, to pay for the modern transportation system that works for the highest number of people, not those few smugglers.”
The red line will share the right-of-way with the Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge Railway. The route will initially run from Agbado in Ogun State to Oyingbo in Lagos, with notable stations, including Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo.
