July 23, (THEWILL) – Lagos and Ogun States governments have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 31-km redline passengers rail service from Oyingbo, Lagos, to Agbado in Ogun, whose operation will commence in first quarter of 2023.
Both the Secretary to Ogun State Government (SSG) Mr Tokunbo Talabi and Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederick Oladeinde, signed the MoU on behalf of two states.
Talabi, while on the agreement, said that the project would be another significant achievement in the series of developments engendered by the Lagos/Ogun Joint Commission
He said that the MoU was another achievement from the robust understanding and synergy between the governors of Lagos and Ogun States in taking advantage of their proximity to better their economies and the lives of their citizens.
The SSG stated that significant achievements had been made by the two states through the Lagos/Ogun Joint Commission in the areas of waterways and security, stressing that it was another testament of more initiatives to be undertaken by the joint commission
“the two states have the understanding that what benefits one, benefits the other and what brings convenience to one will mean the same for the other, due to their close proximity. Integration of the transport system between the two states is highly probable for the benefits of both states”, he said.
Talabi, who pointed out that the transport system of any nation or state is critical to its civilisation, opined that Ogun is committed to taking advantage of the sector to improve the livelihood of commuters and citizens of both states.
On his own part, Oladeinde explained that the 31km redline rail project would have the first phase of 25km, which is already being constructed, would stretch from Oyingbo to Agbado, and would be completed by the end of 2022, while passenger operations would commence first quarter of 2023.
He added that a train station and depot is being built in Ogun State, noting that the project would create a lot of employment opportunities and huge investment within the corridor for the two states.
Also, the Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, hinted that the Ogun government intends to latch on to the initiative to extend train services beyond Agbado to other parts of the state such as Ijoko, Kajola, among others.
Dairo acknowledged the Lagos State Government’s initiative in investing massively in rail infrastructure, saying “the two states are already taking advantage of the significant investment of the Federal Government through the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), along the Lagos/Ibadan standard guage railway infrastructure to ensure transportation is effective and efficient to serve the economic needs of Lagos and Ogun as the commercial nerve and industrial hub of the nation respectively.”
