First-term Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu hit the ground running by executing a trillion Naira signature projects inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari during his two-day visit to the state.
Lekki Seaport and the first phase of Lagos Mass Transit Blue Line Rail Project were among major projects inaugurated on Monday and Tuesday.
The Blue Line is one of the six metro lines identified in the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) master plan.
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The first phase is a 13-kilometre stretch from Marina to Mile 2 and has five stations — the Marina Iconic station; National Theatre; Orile-Iganmu; Suru-Alaba and Mile 2.
It is a 27 kilometres rail route that will run from Marina to Okokomaiko, when completed, and is being implemented in two phases.
Buhari arrived at the Marina Iconic Station at 11.25 a.m., in company of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.
He also witnessed the signing of the contract for the construction of the Second Phase of the Lagos Mass Transit Blue Line Rail.
The President took a ride on the train with Governor Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Gov. Dr Obafemi Hamzat and other dignitaries.
Giving his remarks at the inauguration, Gov. Sanwo-Olu said that the Phase 1 of the Blue Line was expected to cover the stretch in less than 15 minutes, compared with the rush-hour time of 2.5 hours, if undertaken by road.
He said that the benefits of the rail line were obvious and unquantifiable, as it was a more efficient transport service that improved the quality of life of Lagos residents.
The governor said that the project would free up more of the residents’ time, reduce the pressure on the roads, and contribute to Nigeria’s lofty climate action obligations.
According to him, the Blue Line rail system will be powered end-to-end by high voltage electricity, to be supplied by a dedicated Independent Power Producer (IPP), as well as back-up systems.
”What this means is that the operation of this line will leave zero carbon emissions impact on the environment.
”This iconic Marina Station that is hosting us today will be the largest and busiest train hub in Africa, with a capacity to process as many as 400 passengers per minute, translating into 24,000 passengers every hour.
”When Phase 1 starts running fully, we envisage that it will transport a quarter of a million Lagosians daily, rising to half a million daily when the entire corridor is completed.
”Mr President, I thank you for the Federal Government’s support on this project and many others.
“You have made our work administering Lagos much easier in many ways, and we will eternally be grateful to you for this,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Deputy Governor Hamzat, said that the state government’s transportation strategy was multimodal.
He said it brought together the various elements of road, rail and water in a seamless manner that made commuting an interesting experience.
Hamzat said that the rail project would help to reduce the pressure on the roads, enhance the economic wellbeing of Lagos residents and put Lagos State on the same pedestal as others of its stature.
He appreciated the residents for bearing with the government, in the face of all the inconveniences thrown up by the implementation of the project.
In his goodwill message, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Cui Jianchun, said that the Blue Line rail project was a speed line, which would improve Lagos’ residents energy to do other things.
Jianchun said that the mass rail would give much energy and reduce time of doing business.
”Today we really understand the meaning of time, we need to sustain the usage of time for a greater efficiency.
”Nigeria and China have harmony in collaboration in sustainable development, the two countries have the same vision to move the countries forward,” he said.
The Chinese Ambassador said that Nigeria and China had identified 15 projects to collaborate on. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Meanwhile, President Buhari officially commissioned the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Seaport, the 32-metric tons per hour Lagos Rice Mill in Lagos on Monday.
By its size and depth, the Lekki Deep Seaport is expected to be the game changer in West and Central Africa.
The seaport’s turning circle is 600 meters, which is enough for a vessel of up to 16,000 standard containers (TEU). The approach channel is 11 km long.
The chairman of Lekki Port, Mr Biodun Dabiri, had earlier said “From what I can see, in the next four to five years, the economy of the Lekki environs would be worth $25 billion which translates to N10 trillion – an investment amount almost similar to the whole budget of Nigeria.
“I can tell you that if we focus on this axis alone, the ranking of Lagos as one of the largest economies in Africa would be better; we could move from the 4th to 3rd, 2nd and eventually Number 1.”
The Lekki Deep Seaport made history last year as it received the first-ever vessel (Zhen Hua 28) to berth at the port.
The port has three terminals: the container terminal, the liquid terminal, and the dry bulk terminal.
According to the promoters, the container terminal has an initial draft of 14 metres, with the potential for further dredging to 16.5 metres. The terminal is able to handle 2.5 million 20-foot standard containers per year.
The deep-sea port of Lekki is the first port in Nigeria with ship-to-shore cranes. It has three of these container gantry cranes; they belong to the “Super-post-Panamax” group – this means that they can reach and unload the rearmost row of containers even if the container ship is wider than the Panama Canal (49m or 160ft maximum boat beam).
The STS cranes have a fixed rail at the quayside. They can lift 65 tons in twin-lift mode, 50 tons in single-lift mode or 85 tons under a hook.
The port’s computerised system will allow container identification and clearance from the office, and human interaction will be minimal in the physical operations.
When phase 2 is completed, the deep sea port will have three liquid berths. The liquid cargo terminal will handle vessels up to 45,000 DWT (dead weight tonnage) and can expand to reach a capacity of 160,000 DWT.
Liquids (like petrol or diesel) will be handled at a tank farm near the port. The docking area is equipped with loading arms. It is also connected by pipelines along the breakwater.
The bulk terminal with an available quay length of 300m can accommodate a Panamax class vessel (75,000 DWT).
Other inaugurated projects were the 18.75km six-lane rigid-pavement Eleko Junction to Epe Expressway; the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History; and the MRS Lubricant Factory in Apapa
