Blue Line Rail: Buhari granted us waivers on customs duties to ship equipment – Sanwo-Olu
….As President commissions first phase of rail
By Moses Adeniyi
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has applauded the role played by President Muhammadu Buhari in the actualisation of the first phase of the Lagos Blue Line Rail, disclosing the President granted the State waivers on customs duties to ship-in (import) infrastructure equipment for the project.
Sanwo-Olu spoke on Tuesday during the commissioning of the first phase of the Blue Line Rail by President Muhammadu Buhari, held at Marina, Lagos.
“The completion of the Blue Line here, the first rail system by a sub-national in Africa is a Sea crossing. It’s a testament that indeed, the dark days of oppression are behind us as a government and what we will be commissioning here today (Tuesday) is the first phase.
“Mr. President, I want to thank you for your commitment, I want to thank you for the support you have given us. Eventually for the last time, and I think it is important for us to mention it again, you have given us waivers, you have given us clearing waivers on custom duties even to bring our things in on this project. We are indeed very happy with you. We understand that when we have people-driven projects that are important, you have been supportive at all times,” he said.
According to Sanwo-Olu, the rail infrastructure is “expected to cover less than 15 minutes as compared to a journey time that hitherto will take about an hour and a half to two hours.”
He disclosed it has the benefits to reduce travel time, improve the quality of lives of citizens “and will make Lagos one of the most resilient cities not only in Africa, but to compete with other mega cities in the world.”
Sanwo-Olu who emphasised that the Blue Line is to be powered end to end by high voltage electricity, supplied by delegated independent power with a back-up system, said the train has the capacity to transport per hour, an average of 25,000 passengers.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the Red LIne which is larger in extension would be commissioned before the end of the Buhari’s Administration.
Speaking, the Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat described the project as the “most audacious rail project to be funded by a sub-national government” in Nigeria, saying that it is not surprising that the landmark Blue Rail would reduce pressure on road and put the State on the pedestal of other cities around the world.
