As part of effort to tackle traffic congestion and create a world class intracity transport experience, the 37 Kilometer Red Line rail project in Lagos State has been inaugurated.

The project was inaugurated by president Bola Tinubu on Thursday.

The North South rail route project will run from Agbado in Ogun state to Marina with 13 stations at Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, MMIA International, MMIA Domestic, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, Ebute meta, Iddo, Ebute Ero and Marina.

It is expected to embark on 37 trips daily, accommodating approximately 500,000 passengers.

Unlike the electric-powered Blue Line, the Red Line will use a diesel-powered system known as Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU). The Blue Line opened on September 4, 2023.

The rail system is managed by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA)

Initial estimates of the Red Line project, was pegged at the cost of $135 million under the Greater Lagos Urban Transportation Project.

However, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, revealed that both the Blue and Red Lines combined would exceed N100 billion. The construction of the project was handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

The idea of developing a rapid transit in Lagos state was conceived in 1983 with the Lagos Metroline network by Alhaji Lateef Jakande during the Second Nigerian Republic. The initial Metroline project was cancelled in 1985 by Muhammadu Buhari at a loss of over $78 million to the state tax payers.

However, in 2003, the then-governor Bola Tinubu revived the rail network for Lagos State with a formal announcement of its construction.

After the commissioning, Tinubu will depart Lagos for a two-day official visit to the State of Qatar on the invitation by His Highness, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar.