Red Line rail test-run to commence next week — Lagos govt

The Lagos State government has said that Red Line rail test-run will commence next week.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, unveiled exciting news during a Press Briefing on Thursday.

He announced that the Redline rail, stretching from Agbado to Iddo, is set to undergo a test run within a week. This announcement came amidst the kickoff of the 2024 Ministerial Press Briefing by the State’s Ministries, Directorates, and Agencies—an annual event where the State Executive Council presents its achievements to Lagosians.

According to the Commissioner, the event tagged: “Year 2024 Ministerial Press Briefing”, is scheduled to fully kick off at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre on Wednesday, 23rd April and will end on Tuesday, 28th May, 2024.

Commissioner Omotoso addressed concerns about the accessibility of the Red Line terminal and emphasized its integration within the intermodal transportation system.

He assured that connecting roads to rail and ferry facilities will be upgraded to ensure seamless access.

Touching on major infrastructure projects like the Fourth Mainland Bridge and the Lekki Airport, Omotoso disclosed that foreign investors will convene next week to discuss funding strategies.

These projects, situated within the bustling Lekki Corridor, are poised to redefine Lagos’s economic landscape, given the influx of investment and human traffic.

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With developments such as the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Dangote Refinery, and Lekki Deep Sea Port, the need for a new airport became imperative to alleviate strain on the Murtala Muhammed Airport.

Omotoso highlighted the significance of the Fourth Mainland Bridge as an alternative route, crucial for managing anticipated congestion along the Lekki-Expressway.

Transitioning to food security initiatives, he underscored the State’s commitment to programs like “Ounje Eko,” a discounted weekly market scheme, and the Fresh Food Agro-Hub at Idi-Oro.

Additionally, a welfare committee has been established to ensure food accessibility for all Lagosians. Despite challenges like insufficient rice paddy hindering full production at the Imota Rice Mill, Omotoso decried the practice of rebranding locally produced Eko Rice with foreign labels, diminishing its visibility in the market.

Concluding, Omotoso emphasised that the Ministerial Press Briefing serves as a platform for Ministries to showcase achievements and efforts aligned with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda, ensuring Lagosians reap the dividends of democracy.