The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) on Wednesday said that the recently commissioned blue line rail system will commence passenger operations on September 4, 2023.
Abimbola Akinajo, the agency’s managing director, said LAMATA has decided that the passenger operations should start on September 4, adding that Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, will be on the train for the inaugural function of the Blue Line rail system.
She said, “The reason I’m talking to you today is that we said August (for the commencement of train service).”
“We were supposed to be starting today. We decided that we would begin on Monday.
“From LAMATA’s perspective, we will start commercial operations on September 4.
“For the inaugural ride, we hope the governor will come and ride with us.
“The first train ride will be at 9 a.m. Mr. Governor will take the inaugural train ride with members of the public.”
The LAMATA MD added that the train operations will start with 12 trips for two weeks, which will be increased to 76 visits per day.
In January, former President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the first phase of the Blue Line rail project in Lagos.
Before the inauguration, Sanwo-Olu launched a project test run, which is designed to run from Mile 2 (on the mainland) to Marina (on the island).
In June, LAMATA announced that the Blue Line rail system would be open for passenger operations in August 2023.