Lagos-Abuja fast light rail service underway

In a bid to solve the challenges of gridlock and hazards
involved in travelling by road from Lagos to the Federal Capital
territory, Abuja, work is in the pipeline for a hi-tech
transportation system for the route.

The fast cable light rail project will cover the distance of
Lagos and Abuja in 45 minutes at an average speed of 150km per hour
but has capacity for 500km per hour.

At a gathering in Lagos to sensitive members of the public to
the project, the Regional Head, Skyway String Transport Technology,
Mr Arogundade Samson, said the fast transport system had been
carefully designed to assist the government in alleviating the
sufferings of the people in moving from one point to another.

According to him, the company is fully committed; possess the
technical knowhow and financial capability to deliver the project
in good time, as long as it enjoys support and cooperation of the
Lagos and Federal Government.

Samson noted that since Nigeria had the same challenge with
India in terms of population and lack of social infrastructure, the
implementation of similar project there had greatly changed their
story.

A member of the company’s board, Vladimir Maslov, said the
company was ready to sign an agreement with the Federal Government
and Lagos State to signal the beginning of the fast track
transportation project.

On some of the benefits inherent in the project, Maslov said it
would reduce the rate at which commuters were exposed to accidents
on the road, and encourage zero tolerance for pollution as well as
improved security of lives and property of passengers.

The Nigerian partner for the project, Ayodele Adewale, said it
would largely assist the government’s drive in boosting
infrastructures in the country.

He stated that the government needed to provide incentives for
the company to move in their equipment as the project, after its
implementation would be a win-win situation for both parties.

He, however, added that the company was not aversed to financial
support from the government despite having all it would take to
actualise the project.

He explained that since the project would generate its own
power, this would provide illumination along its corridor in
communities around its routes.

Adewale also stated that the project would boost tourism as it
would allow Nigerians to have views of beautiful land scape within
the country.