At exactly 5.20pm, Lagos’ Number One citizen and the Red Line Head Ground Staff, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu flagged off commercial activity on the Lagos Red Line, the second mass transit.
The governor who was accompanied by members of the state executive council among who are the Commissioners of Transportation Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, and his colleague in the Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, members of the House of Assembly, among them the Chairman House Committee on Transportation, Hon. Temitope Adewale (Jah), and members of the All Progressives Congress and a league of Nollywood actors, led by the doyen, Jide Kosoko, who was accompanied by Mr Yomi Fash Lanso, Kanran, Olu Omolade, Femi Davies, among others.
The governor said the train is another testimony of his commitment to provide transit alternatives to the people of the state.
The Head of the Ground Staff, Gov Sanwo-Olu announced the approach of each station even as he urged passengers disembarking to mind the platform and the said the space between the train and the platform to enhance their safety.
“The train is slow and steady and we are happy that all sectors of the society are here with us, including the guild of actors.
“With the commencement of this train service, tomorrow we shall flag off this service in full and LAMATA has released their schedule of the train service,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said.
He said from Oyingbo to Agbado normally, you will spend about 2.30 minutes but on our train you will spend just about one hour.
The governor who performed his ground duty roles even in the coaches to Ikeja, before disembarking along with members of the executive council to.
He said the red line train was the second by his administration with the first which was the Blue Line, already carrying over two million people within a year.
The trip from Oyingbo to Agbado will cost N1,200 while from Oyingbo to Ikeja or Agege, will cost N500.
Sanwo-Olu who admitted that the people are going through a lot at this time, said his administration was intentional in providing affordable alternative to the people of the state.
He said he will love to see the people enjoy the train service and other alternatives being provided by the government.
Hon Adewale, lauded Governor Sanwo-Olu for his commitment to providing good alternative modes of transportation to the people of the state.
Actor Jide Kosoko, described the red line as another good legacy of the governor. He said the train should rather be called Sanwo Train. For him, the train is very comfortable and convenient. He praised the governor for the train.
Another Actor, Yomi Fash Lanso, said the train is another testimony that Lagos is moving in the right direction.
He said the train service will ensure that people living in the Agbado area are better served.
He said the beauty is that there is no traffic congestion, no traffic light and traffic congestion on the train.
At Agbado, the residents thronged out to witness the arrival of the new train service.