Reps task FG on construction of Benin-Lagos railway corridor

…call for the construction of pedestrian bridge on the Sagamu-Benin expressway

The House of Representatives on Wednesday tasked the Federal Government on the need for the construction of the Benin-Lagos railway corridor with a view to boosting trade, easing transportation and enhancing security in the country.

The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Omosede Igbinedion.

In her lead debate, Hon. Igbinedion observed that Lagos and Benin City are major economic and population centres, with daily transportation of people, goods and agricultural produce along the route.

While noting that the Lagos-Benin highway is currently overburdened, plagued by traffic congestion, dilapidation and rising incidents of armed robbery, kidnapping and accidents.

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She expressed concern that the absence of a railway alternative on this critical route puts strain on the national economy, endangers lives, delays supply chains and stifles regional integration.

The lawmaker, however, noted that developing a modern railway line between Benin and Lagos will provide a safer, faster and more reliable alternative for commuters and businesses, while also reducing pressure on the road network.

“The House is worried that insecurity along this route continues to discourage interstate travel and commercial activity, especially for women, traders, students and farmers transporting produce.

“The House believes that investment in railway infrastructure is not only an economic strategy but also a national security imperative, especially in vulnerable and high-traffic regions,” she noted.

To this end, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to prioritise the development of the Benin-Lagos railway corridor under the national transport masterplan.

The lawmakers also encouraged the security components, such as surveillance systems, railway police and secured terminals, to be integrated into the design of the railway infrastructure.

While ruling, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen mandated the House Committee on Land Transport to ensure compliance.

In the same vein, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Works to immediately review the Sagamu-Benin Expressway project design and include the construction of flyovers and pedestrian bridges at identified high-risk areas
within Sagamu.

The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Adesola Ayoola-Elegbeji, who expressed grief over the increasing rate of road accidents and fatalities being recorded daily along the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, especially within the Sagamu axis, where the expressway cuts directly across the heart of the town.

She observed that the ongoing construction of the Sagamu-Benin Expressway has inadvertently created significant safety challenges for pedestrians and motorists due to the absence of designated pedestrian crossings, bridges, and flyovers.

Hon. Ayoola-Elegbeji further noted that the expressway has effectively divided Sagamu town into two distinct parts, with the section across the expressway experiencing an explosive population growth, tripling the size of the older part of Sagamu, leading to constant movement of residents, traders, and students across the highway.

“The House is concerned that the constant human and vehicular movement across a high-speed highway has resulted in fatal accidents involving school children, market women, and commuters attempting to cross the expressway,” she lamented.