Gbenga Omotosho, who serves as the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State, disclosed on Thursday that the Red Line Rail project is poised to undergo a two-month trial operation in the near future.
During a press conference convened at the Alausa Secretariat in Ikeja, Omotosho reiterated the government’s pledge to improve the lives of Lagos residents.
Residents have eagerly anticipated the initiation of commercial activities on the Red Line ever since its inauguration by President Bola Tinubu on February 29th.
Initially, it is projected that the Red Line will accommodate a daily ridership of 500,000 passengers when it becomes operational.
Stretching across 37 kilometers, the rail line seamlessly connects vital bus terminals at Oyingbo, Yaba, Oshodi, Ikeja, and Iju, with its reach extending to Agbado in Ogun State.
The state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had said that Lagos aimed to unlock over N4trn annually in lost work hours that its productive manpower loses in traffic.
He said that the state was set to revolutionise commuter experiences while tackling challenges like traffic congestion and road safety.
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Omotosho, while giving the update on the red line rail, said the Sanwo-Olu administration would shed more light on its development projects during its annual ministerial briefings beginning on April 23.
“With various ongoing projects across the state, it is evident enough that Mr governor has consistently delivered on his commitment towards the socio-economic development of residents.
“In the health sector, the construction of the Pediatric Hospital at Adeniji Adele has been rapid, also the Badagry General hospital is gradually taking shape.
“The Red Line Rail will soon be test run for two months.
“Our annual ministerial briefing will kickoff from April 23, to May 28; all ministries will give account of their stewardship in the last one year since our administration’s second term in office first year anniversary,” he said.
On the proposed intervention for teachers and health care workers who can’t work remotely, the commissioner said adequate compensation had been made for them.
“Yes, they are compensated; we understand the peculiarity of the job they do, nobody is left out of Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s welfare programme,” Omotosho said.
It’s important to remember that the government had previously mandated a work-from-home arrangement for its employees for a certain period, in an effort to mitigate the financial burdens they faced due to the escalating cost of living.
However, this policy couldn’t be applied to specific groups, such as teachers, who were obligated to be physically present at school during regular working hours.