Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city and commercial capital is constructing a light rail system under a public private partnership (PPP). The project is sponsored by the Lagos State Government (LSG) and will be developed by Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) on behalf of the Lagos state government.
But passing through the train stations that is almost near completion before it was abandoned following the exit of former governor of Lagos state; Babatunde Fashola presents a very ugly picture of government’s total disconnect from the gigantic project following the infiltration of criminal elements on the infrastructure that has been completely neglected.
China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) was appointed as the contractor for the construction of the first line (Blue). The contract includes the basic design and construction of the rail infrastructure. Detailed design and surveying for the entire project has been completed.
The Chinese Civil Engineering & Construction Corporation (CCECC) is constructing the Blue line in two phases. The first phase includes the National Theatre to Mile 2 section and the second phase includes the Mile 2 to Okokomaiko section. CCECC has completed 90% of the structural work for the line.
In all, there are combined five-kilometre viaduct rail over road and cable stay-bridge will be built, linking the Red and Blue lines. Other infrastructure to be built as part of the project include signalling, control and communications (SC&C) systems; supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems; depot and workshop facilities; an operations control centre and a training facility for drivers.
As many who live and work on the Lagos-Badagry route daily yearn to see the project completed, four train stations have been completed and the train track laid on the Mile 2 to National Theatre route. But at the time of filing this report, these completed train stations have become a safe haven for destitutes and a thriving shelter for indecent and other forms of criminal activities.
From the National Theatre inward Lagos Island, the pillars to take the train track across the swampy portion of Ijora and Lagoon, as well as, the pillars to take the train track to the Island Terminal are being constructed.
It was targeted when the project between 2009 and 2010, that by the end of 2012, a total of 8km of the Blue line will be completed. Construction of the Blue line was initially expected to be completed since 2011, but has been delayed to 2015 due to funding issues. Today, the CCECC have to suspend work raising questions as to the funding situation of the project.
The Blue line measures 27 kilometer long, connecting Okokomaiko to Marina, while the first two lines of the urban rail project are estimated to cost $1.4bn. The second which will run between Marina and Agbado when completed will be 30km long. LAMATA has proposed seven lines in the Lagos network. These are the red, blue, green, yellow, purple, brown and orange lines.
MIKE OCHONMA
