Lagos Blue Rail Surpasses 2M Passengers, Buses Serve 42,000 Daily
BY TEMITOPE ADEBAYO
The Lagos State Government has announced that the Blue Line Rail has transported over 2 million passengers since its commissioning, while state-operated buses currently serve an average of 42,000 commuters each day.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, during the Year 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held at Press Centre, Alausa.
The event commemorated the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term, and showcased key achievements in the transport sector under the THEMES+ agenda.
Osiyemi noted that the Lagos State Transport Policy, launched in May 2024, has now moved into the implementation phase, with a focus on inclusivity, safety, affordability, and sustainability.
Highlighting rail projects, the Commissioner stated that Phase 1 of the Blue Line (Marina to Mile 2) has already served over 2 million commuters, while construction on Phase 2 (Mile 2 to Okokomaiko) is ongoing. He also revealed that Phase 1 of the Red Line (Agbado to Oyingbo) is now operational with eight stations and additional rolling stock, while work on Phase 2 (Oyingbo to connect with the Blue Line at the National Theatre) is progressing steadily.
On the state-run bus system, Osiyemi revealed that over 60 million passengers have been transported since 2019, with daily ridership surpassing 40,000. He added that plans are underway to introduce new buses and expand infrastructure through the development of Quality Bus Corridors. He also noted that the Abule Egba Bus Terminal has been commissioned.
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Regarding water transportation, Osiyemi announced the launch of 15 locally-built Omibus Ferries, which are already operational, along with the opening of the Ijegun Egba Terminal. He highlighted the OMI EKO project, a collaboration with the French Development Agency (AFD), which aims to deliver 25 terminals and 78 electric ferries. Over 280,000 passengers have used ferry services in the past year, and 12 boats have been upgraded to meet safety standards.
On road infrastructure and traffic management, the Commissioner revealed that 49 junction improvement projects have been completed, with ongoing works at Ikorodu, Iju, and Allen-Opebi-Toyin. Additional interventions include the installation of solar-powered traffic signal lights, 67.9km of road markings, new medians, laybys, and 3,941 parking slots.
Osiyemi also reported that the deployment of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras has led to the detection of over 470,000 traffic violations. The Vehicle Inspection Service has issued over 1 million roadworthiness certificates, and the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI) has trained more than 32,000 drivers.
Furthermore, he noted that LASTMA has trained over 800 officers, evacuated more than 100 broken-down vehicles from roads, and revived its school safety advocacy initiative across 59 schools.
