Tinubu to commission Ikeja Redline Rail february 29

By Adeola Ogunrinde

Lagos state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday announced President Bola Tinubu would launch the Ikeja Red Line Rail on February 29.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed this during the maiden edition of the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) Stakeholders’ Forum 2024 in Ikeja, Lagos.

Speaking during the LASPA Stakeholders Forum 2014, themed: “Parking In Lagos, The Journey So Far: Assessing The Social And Economic Impact Of The Sector”, Sanwo-Olu urged all stakeholders in the transport sector to comply with the Lagos State Parking Policy in his administration’s renewed and intentional effort to curb indiscriminate parking in the state.

He said that the President would commission the redline rail project at the intermodal rail terminal in Ikeja.

Sanwo-olu noted that the project was part of his administration’s commitment to ensure seamless transportation system in the state, adding that it would change the face of public transportation in Lagos.

Sanwo-olu noted the crucial role the parking management plays in traffic management around the world, restating that Traffic Management and Transportation is the first Pillar of our THEMES agenda.

“The Lagos State government has a strategic Transport Masterplan. Within the ambit of this Masterplan, we have the Lagos State Parking Policy, as well as the law that in 2021 established the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA), which has been saddled with the responsibility of regulating all forms of parking, adopting innovative, adaptable and sustainable operational system and technologies, while also laying the foundation for a lasting change in parking culture across the state.

“We have adopted a model that ensures a win-win situation between the state and local governments. Lagos has already shown that this kind of state—LGA partnership can work, through the establishment of LASAA, and through the Land Use Charge, and we are now set to showcase the same with the Lagos State Parking Authority.”

Also speaking at the event, General Manager, LASPA, Adebisi Adelabu, said the forum was put together as part of the government concerted efforts to keep all stakeholders abreast of the programmes and policies of LASPA, especially to seek your support for the implementation of the Lagos state parking policy.

Adelabu said that the programme was apt considering the challenges the residents face in the transport sector with the influx of people into the state.

“Parking management takes centre stage in the actualization of this objective, as it is practically impossible to venture into traffic management without putting into consideration the issue of parking management.

“Existing data shows that over 1.2 million registered vehicles ply the roads of this city, with about 224 vehicles per kilometer of road space for a population of over 24 million people.

“A recent statistic from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) reveals that there are over 13 million vehicles on Nigeria roads. Interestingly, more than two million are here in Lagos. It might also interest you to note that over 18,000 vehicles were registered in Lagos in January alone”.

Adelabu noted that the Lagos State government, through the Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018 established the Lagos State Parking Authority while activating the State Parking Policy.