President Buhari Inaugurates Lagos-Ibadan Railway Project at Mobolaji Johnson Station

President Buhari Inaugurates Lagos-Ibadan Railway Project at Mobolaji Johnson Station

Thursday, June 10, 2021 3:29 pm


L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Speaker, the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; President Muhammadu Buhari; Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Minister of Defense, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd) during the handing over of security vehicles, motorcycles, APCs, gadgets and other kits acquired by Lagos Government at the Police College, Ikeja, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.

R-L: President Buhari, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun.

*Shortly after he inaugurated the project, President Buhari took a ride from Ebute Metta Station to Energy Nature Light (ENL), Terminal, Apapa Port, Lagos.
President Buhari Thursday inaugurated the commercial operations of Lagos-Ibadan railway project at the Mobolaji Johnson Railway Station, Ebute Metta, Lagos, describing the feat ‘‘as another milestone in the drive of this Administration to revitalize the railway system and establish it as a choice mode of transportation for both passengers and freight.’’
The President pledged that his administration would continue to prioritise the railway system as a transportation backbone that can transform industrial and economic activity in the country.
On the benefits of the Lagos-Ibadan corridor as well as other on-going railway projects across the country, President Buhari said:

‘‘This vital line establishes an end-to-end logistic supply chain in railway transport within its short corridor, Lagos – Ibadan, as goods to the hinterland would now be transported by rail directly from the Apapa port Quayside straight to the Inland Container Depot located in Ibadan from where it can be distributed to other parts of the country.

Mobolaji Johnson Railway Station, Ebute Metta, Lagos

‘‘In clear recognition of the challenges posed to our economic growth by absence of strong and effective infrastructure, we have in the rail sector, further to other ongoing railway infrastructure projects, embarked on the completion of the outstanding segment of the Lagos – Kano railway, which is Ibadan – Kano.
‘‘The Lagos – Kano railway project when completed will link the Kano – Maradi line at Kano and a rail link from the Nigeria southern ports of Lagos to Maradi in Niger Republic will be achieved.
‘‘The connection through rail would position Nigerian ports as the choice for import and export business of the people of landlocked Niger Republic.
‘‘This would be beneficial to the economy through employment from new business opportunities and wealth creation.’’
The President expressed delight that his directive to the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Finance on reaching financial agreements with appropriate co-financiers to partner with the Federal Government for the development of the Ibadan – Kano railway was yielding results.
He noted that Ibadan-Kano project would have a connection to the Tin Can Island port as well as the West – East Coastal rail line from Lagos to Calabar linking Onitsha, Benin, Warri, Yenagoa, Port Harcourt, Aba and Uyo.
‘‘From the beginning of this administration, railway infrastructure development has been given the priority it deserves and various milestones have been reached, right from when the Abuja – Kaduna railway was flagged-off for commercial operation in 2016 to this Lagos – Ibadan railway project being commissioned today for full commercial operation,’’ he said.
Commending the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for his drive and tenacity in achieving the milestone recorded today, the President praised the ‘‘wonderful team in the Ministry’’ for a job well done.
Shortly after he inaugurated the project, President Buhari took a ride from Ebute Metta Station to Energy Nature Light (ENL), Terminal, Apapa Port, Lagos.
He was joined by the Speaker House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Governors of Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun and the Deputy Governor of Ondo, the Minister of Transportation, the Minister of State Transportation, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, other Ministers as well as some government officials.

-See more photos below:

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu presents an Eyo effigy to President Muhammadu Buhari during the handing over of security vehicles, motorcycles, APCs, gadgets and other kits acquired by Lagos Government at the Police College, Ikeja, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun and Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat during the handing over of security vehicles, motorcycles, APCs, gadgets and other kits acquired by Lagos Government at the Police College, Ikeja, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.

Security vehicles, motorcycles, gadgets and other kits acquired by Lagos State Government and commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Police College Ground, Ikeja, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.

Security vehicles, motorcycles, gadgets and other kits acquired by Lagos State Government and commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Police College Ground, Ikeja, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.

L-R: Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; President Muhammadu Buhari; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun and Inspector General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba Usman during the handing over of security vehicles, motorcycles, APCs, gadgets and other kits acquired by Lagos Government at the Police College, Ikeja, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu presents an Eyo effigy to President Muhammadu Buhari during the handing over of security vehicles, motorcycles, APCs, gadgets and other kits acquired by Lagos Government at the Police College, Ikeja, on Thursday, June 10, 2021.


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