Bus terminals: Months after demolition of houses pace of work slow in Lagos communities

…Work at Ojuelegba, Lawanson, Cele express, Mile 2 in slow motion

…Project within estimated time frame, LAMATA insists

…Assures project to be delivered by end of 2026

Months after the demolition of structures preparatory for the takeoff of the Quality Bus Corridor (QBC) project aimed at transforming the metropolitan transportation system of the state, much work has not been done.

The QBC project is a component of the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan Project (LSTMPP) designed to enhance transportation by prioritizing bus movement with features like dedicated lanes, priority signals at intersections, and upgraded bus stops.

The goal of the government, especially with the multimodal transport exchange project is to improve travel time and create a more efficient public transportation system within the Lagos metropolis.

However, some Lagosians have raised concern over what they described as slow pace of work after the demolition of structures along the corridor.

“As much as I always appreciate the scale, motives, and vision behind the QBC and similar transportation projects across Lagos State, I often get worried about failures to meet delivery deadlines,” Moses Lawal, a Lagosian, told BusinessDay.

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He added that basic project management knowledge would suggest that the longer a project drags, the higher the prospect of cost variation creeping in.

“The three QBC projects for example were billed for completion in 12 months. We are already in the second half of the projected construction lifespan but evidence on ground leaves doubts about the contractors’ ability to deliver within the specified period,” he said.

However, he is also of the view that quality must never be sacrificed for speed in order to meet project deadlines.

“As much as I would love to see timely delivery, quality must never be sacrificed for it. I will advise the LASG and contractors to always seriously consider all factors (funding, weather, possible litigations, etc) before coming to public with timelines,” Lawal said.

According to him, such actions will help manage citizens’ expectations and boost confidence in the government.

“Also, monitoring should be strict, and inspections impromptu and regular to keep contractors on their toes. Most project sites are mostly dead at night.

“A contractor committed to timely delivery should surely run two shifts, especially when it has become apparent that deadlines could be missed,” Lawal said.

Maxwell Audu, a teacher and concerned commuter along the Mile2-Okokomaiko axis, told BusinessDay that, the construction of the second phase of the Lagos Blue Line Rail Project is a welcome development, which will help in reducing vehicular movement and providing a faster means of transportation along the corridor.

“Like every typical project in Nigeria handled by the government, it’s not without hiccups, affecting the work from meeting the expected timeframe for completion,” Audu said.

According to him, the slow pace of work on the Lagos Blue Line Rail Project from Mile 2 to Okoko is becoming a health challenge to the teeming population residing along the corridor.

“There was a time when you’d see men from the Chinese Construction Engineering Company (CCEC) working on the main train stations (Agboju, Abule-Ado, Alaba Rago, and Okoko), but recently, I’ve noticed that the men on the construction sites have disappeared.

“Today, the rail line path has become a public toilet for many traders, hoodlums, and others. The pedestrian bridges have equally become dens for thieves and drug addicts,” Audu said.

According to him, residents, both old and young have to cross the road supposedly built for the train track daily, while the already-made plans are beginning to lose their value.

He added that the resulting effect is that the government will have to spend more money to get the work done all over again. “I pray that this phase of the Lagos Blue Line Rail will not eventually become an abandoned project.

“The government should act fast and let the work progress like the section from Mile 2 to Lagos Island, which will give the environment a new facelift,” he said.

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LAMATA official position

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) however, said that both projects were on course to meet stipulated deadlines set at the initial stage.

The agency assured Lagosians of timely completion of the projects in line with the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan Project.

“The extension of the second phase of the Blue Line from Mile2 to Okokomaiko, what we expect is that infrastructure will be completed at the end of 2026, and we hope to commence operation by the first or second quarter of 2027,” Kolawole Ojelabi, LAMATA’s head of corporate communication, told BusinessDay.

According to him, both projects are in line with the delivery timeline given to Lagosian by the government, and that the last quarter of 2026, is still a feasible date for the projects, while the government hope to commence operation sometimes in 2027.

Bringing more clarity to the ongoing work along the Lagos-Badagry expressway, Ojelabi said that some level of construction work is happening offsite.

“For instance, if we are talking about the superstructure on the bridge area.

They’re not going to be done on site. It’s going to be done elsewhere. They’re going to bring it there,” he said.

He also disclosed that everything needed to complete the track are already in the country at the moment; hence, there is no need for citizens to panic over contractors meeting initial deadline for project delivery.

LAMATA stakeholders’ engagement

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has been engaging different stakeholders since the demolition of houses along the Quality Bus Corridor (QBC).

The continuous engagement was aimed at ensuring people affected by the QBC get the right compensation from the state government as agreed before the demolition.

“The stakeholder engagement to facilitate the implementation of the Resettlement Action Plan marked the recommencement of the payment of compensation to the tenants affected by infrastructure development in Surulere.

“This is an attempt to ensure homes or businesses that were impacted by the transport infrastructure project are taken care of and treated with respect,” Abimbola Akinajo, the managing director of LAMATA, stated recently.

According to her, both projects are aimed at improving transportation and urban mobility in Lagos. She also reiterated the state government’s commitment to ensure that every individual affected by the project are treated with dignity and fairness.

“Today’s compensation exercise reflects our resolve to uphold the principles of equity and transparency as outlined in the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP).

“We recognise that development has to be people-centred, and this means providing support to those whose lives are temporarily disrupted along the way,” said Akinajo, who was represented by Adeolu Ojo, head, environment, social, health and safety, LAMATA.

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According to LAMATA, the projects being developed in collaboration with supports from Agence Française de Développement and Global Impact Environmental Consulting, underscores the state’s drive for urban development.

Babatunde Osho, managing director, Global Impact Environmental Consulting, said that the resettlement and compensation were not afterthoughts but fundamental to responsible project execution.

“At Global Impact, we are proud to support this process and ensure that affected persons receive their due benefits promptly and respectfully. Public consultations like this help boost trust, accountability, and long-term goodwill.”

The multimodal transport exchange project hubs when fully developed will integrate different modes of transport, including buses, trains, and non-motorised options for efficient and climate-friendly transportation in Lagos.