Sanwo-Olu Departs For China

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, departed for Beijing, China.

THE WHISTLER gathered that the governor’s trip to China is to complete deals on the Blue and Red Line rail services.

Both rail lines are being handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC).

The first phase of the Blue Line rail, which is 13-kilometer covering five stations, was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2023. Contract for the second phase spanning from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko area of the state, was also signed on the same day between the state government and CCECC.

When fully completed, the Blue Line is expected to move 250,000 passengers daily.

The Red Line on the other hand, is about 96 per cent complete, Sanwo-Olu had said in September 2023 during the flag off of commercial operations of the Blue Line rail.

Although the government had promised to deliver the project last year, it was not delivered.

Upon completion, it is expected to move 500,000 passengers daily. This translates to 3.5 million passengers weekly and 15 million passengers a month.

The Red Line rail spans 37 Kilometers and runs from Agbado to Marina with 13 stations in Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, MMIA International, MMIA domestic, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, Ebute-Metta, Iddo, Ebute Ero, and Marina.

Confirming the governor’s visit to China, his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, said Sanwo-Olu will inspect CCECC headquarters in Beijing, from where he is scheduled to inspect some ongoing projects being undertaken by the company around the Chinese capital.

According to Akosile, the governor will later depart Beijing for Dalian within the week for a visit to China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation headquarters and CRRC Lvshun base, where he is scheduled to hold a high-level official meeting with the Head of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation, CRRC Dalian.

“In a bid to fulfill his promise of delivering a multimodal transportation system for the populace, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will, on Tuesday depart Lagos for Beijing, the Capital of China.

“While in China, Governor Sanwo-Olu will visit the headquarters of China Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC for trade and investment discussions with the top officials of the company. He will inspect the headquarters of the Chinese construction giants and some ongoing projects undertaken around Beijing.

“The Governor is scheduled to inspect the Signaling System (CBTC etc.) and Metro projects, being undertaken by CCECC around Beijing.

“He will depart Beijing for Dalian later in the week for a visit to China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation headquarters and CRRC Lvshun base, he is scheduled to hold a high-level official meeting with Head of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation, CRRC Dalian. There would also be Technical Discussion on the DMUs for Red Line and EMUs for Blue Line between LAMATA , CCECC and CRRC Dalian,” Akosile said in a statement.

Sanwo-Olu is accompanied on the trip by the Commissioner for Transportation, Seun Osiyemi, Chairman, House Committee on Transportation, Temitope Adewale, Chairman, House Committee on Environment parastatals, Rasheed Shabi, Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Abimbola Akinajo, Director, Rail Transport, Olasunkanmi Okusaga among other officials.

Sanwo-Olu and the entourage are billed to return to Lagos in a week’s time.