The Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) announced that the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line is 99% complete and will begin operations in September 2024. The Managing Director of LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo, represented by the Director for Rail, Olasukanmi Okusaga, revealed this at a news conference organized by the Ministry of Transportation and its agencies in Lagos.
The Red Line will initially have four trips per day between Oyingbo and Agbado, operating at 8:30 am and 12:30 pm for a four-week period. The technical test runs for the Red Line system have already commenced.
In addition to the rail updates, Idowu Oguntona, Managing Director of Lagos Bus Services Ltd. (LBSL), reported that LBSL has provided transportation to two million Lagos residents from May to date and has established a fully accredited high-capacity training school for drivers. The LBSL has also implemented a Sustainable Policy to decarbonize its fleet, promoting environmental responsibility.
The Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA), led by General Manager Rasheed Muri-Okunola, has automated its system to improve service delivery, reducing the time to obtain a plate number from 48 hours to 36 hours. The MVAA is collaborating with the Lagos State Number Plate Production Authority to achieve this.
Tiamiyu Afusat, General Manager of the Lagos State Drivers Institute, reported that the institute has expanded its centers to five locations and has trained 236,000 drivers. The institute has introduced computer-based training for drivers and urges organizations to enroll their drivers in these programs.
Adebisi Adelabu of the Lagos State Parking Authority mentioned that on-street parking enforcement has not yet begun due to the need for collaborative enforcement efforts. The parking fees will range from ₦200 to ₦1,000 per hour, depending on the area.
Sola Giwa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, emphasized that the Bus Reform Initiative aims to ensure safe, effective, and efficient transportation in Lagos. From August, all trucks heading to the Lekki axis must use the state’s call-up system to streamline operations.
Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, noted that the session served as a feedback mechanism to enhance the ministry’s operations. He highlighted the government’s efforts to create a safe environment by developing a functional database of everyone entering and leaving Lagos through interstate parks, ensuring better security planning for the state.