Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, expressed his frustration with former Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode regarding the management of the metro line project, particularly the blue line.
Speaking at the Intermodal Transportation Summit in Lagos, organized by the Transportation Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (TCAN), Amaechi noted that the federal government had permitted the Lagos State government to utilize the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) track for the red line, but he felt the former governor did not prioritize the project adequately.
He also mentioned that there had been a monorail project in Rivers State before Lagos embarked on its own metro initiatives.
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Amaechi acknowledged the significance of the Lagos State Government being the first sub-national entity to commission metro lines with the inauguration of both the red and blue lines.
He praised the current administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for successfully advancing these projects to completion.
He said, “There was monorail in Rivers State. But in all honesty Lagos State has done well in rail transportation. The place I nearly got angry was when Ambode almost gave up the blue line.
“I tried to get Ambode. I tried through the Vice-President, I reported him to the President until the new governor came. I said, “listen, we were about to close the line. There is a line the Ministry of Transport would give you based on our agreement.”
“Ambode had told me as if they were not interested. He said they were to construct it (a new track). I said, “no don’t construct, use the federal government’s corridor. There is not enough train movement, buy your own coaches and run on our tracks.”
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