The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Ali Muhammad Ali, says the Lagos Blue Light Rail operations in Lagos State will boost productivity and reduce traffic congestion.
Muhammad spoke after boarding the train to other stations of the train in Lagos on Sunday.
The managing director commended Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s for investing in a first-class transportation mode.
He said: “From what I have seen, every station is organised and the timeliness of the movement of the train is good.
“From Marina to Mile 2 –13 km– I saw five stations — Marina, National Theatre, Orile Iganmu, Alaba and Mile 2.
“I discovered that passenger get there as scheduled.
“So, when you have this system, giving the volume of people that patronise the train, the management will recover what has been sunk in the investment quickly.
“The Blue Light Rail, powered by electricity, is an investment that ought to have been there long time ago, giving the status of Lagos”.
He also urged other states to emulate Lagos State.
“I am sure other mega cities — Federal Capital Territory and others –will emulate Lagos State in that regard.
“The ambience of the fully air-conditioned train coaches is nice; the journey that will take you hours if you go by road from Marina to Mile 2, will take less than 20 minutes,” Muhammad said
Muhammad also said that the use of the state-owned train would reduce stress, road accidents and ease the job of traffic managers.
Muhammad urged the Lagos residents to utilise the Blue Light Rail facility which he observed was cheaper.
A passenger, Chidera Dim, a student, said that since he had been boarding the train, he spent less time on road.
“The train will come by 6.30 a.m, I wake up in the morning, dress up, take my tea and get to schools by 7 a.m.
“The government should subsidise the cost for the students if it can’t be totally free,” Dim said.
An economist, Mr Allen Williams, said that he appreciated the Blue Light Rail services.
He pleaded with the Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority to specify the number of passengers onboard each coach.
Williams pleaded with the train management to collaborate with other stakeholders to serve the commuters better.
Another passenger, simply identified as Nathaniel, advised the management of the train service to create a desk where passengers who lost things could be advised.
A French entrepreneur, Mrs Cecilia Evezi, commended the government and President Bola Tinubu for establishing a first-class train in Lagos State.
She said that she boarded the train to take video shots with her daughter to show people in France that Nigeria is moving forward.
