By Adeyinka Aderibigbe
In fulfilment of its promise to compensate project affected parties while establishing the right of way for the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red line project in Ogun State, the Lagos State Government has commenced payment of compensation to about 800 people comprising tenants and property owners.
The compensation process was carried out jointly by officials of the Land Bureau of the Ogun State Government and consultant to LAMATA, Messrs. Global Impact and Environmental Service, and witnessed by officials of LAMATA.
Speaking at the commencement of the payment of compensation, LAMATA’s Managing Director Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, represented by the Technical Adviser, Corporate and Investment Planning, LAMATA, Engr. Osa Konyeha, underscored the importance of the process which she described as one of the outputs of the Lagos-Ogun Joint Development Commission – the body set up to ensure seamless development between Lagos and Ogun states, especially where there are cross boundary issues.
She stated that Lagos State Government was developing a number of transport schemes that would impact Ogun State, stating that one of such projects is the Red Line rail project which would have a station and depot in Agbado.
The Red Line has been forecasted to bring lots of economic and mobility benefits to Agbado and environs and reduce travel time between Agbado and Marina on Lagos Island by more than two hours, especially during peak hours.
Recall that Lagos and Ogun State governments, last week, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) granting Lagos access to acquire space for the construction of a train station and depot yard at Agbodo.
The MoU is a product of several high level meetings between both states, for the Red Line rail, which is projected to move more than one million passengers daily when fully completed and create employment for thousands of people apart from promoting real estate and improving the lifestyle of the people of both states.
LAMATA MD, thanked the government of Ogun State for the immense cooperation given Lagos State and its agency, LAMATA, to work to beat the deadline for the completion of the railway project’s infrastructure ahead of passenger operation slated for the first quarter of 2023.
The Red Line is a 25-kilometre rail road from Agbado, in Ogun State, to Marina in Lagos. Its first phase from Agbado to Oyingbo is currently under construction and is due to commence passenger operations in the first quarter of 2023.