Photo taken on April 24, 2022 shows the Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu (C) visiting the ongoing Blue Line rail project in Lagos, Nigeria. The governor of southwest Nigeria's Lagos State has praised the progress of one of the state's most important intra-city light rail projects, saying its completion would strengthen the intermodal transportation system in the country's economic hub. (Photo by Tope Ayoku/Xinhua)
LAGOS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The governor of southwest Nigeria's Lagos State has praised the progress of one of the state's most important intra-city light rail projects, saying its completion would strengthen the intermodal transportation system in the country's economic hub.
The Blue Line rail project, contracted by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), was 90 percent complete, said Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of the Lagos State, during a visit to the ongoing project Sunday.
"We are happy that the contractors are working seven days a week," said Sanwo-Olu, noting people in Lagos would ride a train on the rail by the first quarter of 2023.
The governor said the state government plans to purchase some train coaches from China between September and October in preparation for the commissioning of the project.
According to a statement of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority in January, the Blue Line is a 27 km light rail line designed with thirteen stations and an end-to-end journey time of thirty-five minutes.
The project is expected to facilitate a reduction in traffic congestion and travel time for commuters within the Lagos city, create affordable transport alternatives for residents and stimulate economic development within the state, said the statement. ■
Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu passes a ticket gate at a train station during an inspection of the ongoing Blue Line rail project in Lagos, Nigeria, April 24, 2022.
The governor of southwest Nigeria's Lagos State has praised the progress of one of the state's most important intra-city light rail projects, saying its completion would strengthen the intermodal transportation system in the country's economic hub. (Xinhua)
Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gets on a train during an inspection of the ongoing Blue Line rail project in Lagos, Nigeria, April 24 2022. The governor of southwest Nigeria's Lagos State has praised the progress of one of the state's most important intra-city light rail projects, saying its completion would strengthen the intermodal transportation system in the country's economic hub. (Xinhua)
Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu (C) visits the ongoing Blue Line rail project in Lagos, Nigeria, April 24, 2022.
The governor of southwest Nigeria's Lagos State has praised the progress of one of the state's most important intra-city light rail projects, saying its completion would strengthen the intermodal transportation system in the country's economic hub. (Photo by Tope Ayoku/Xinhua)
Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu poses for a photo in front of a train during an inspection of the Blue Line rail project in Lagos, Nigeria, April 24, 2022.
The governor of southwest Nigeria's Lagos State has praised the progress of one of the state's most important intra-city light rail projects, saying its completion would strengthen the intermodal transportation system in the country's economic hub. (Photo by Tope Ayoku/Xinhua)