Lagos Re-affirms Commitment to Light Rail
By Andrew Ahiante
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, has dismissed insinuations that the Lagos State government and LAMATA are planning to drop the light rail system project, included in its transport reform plans.
Mr Lanre Dada, Senior Specialist, External Relations, LAMATA, described the insinuations as quite understandable, but lamented that LAMATA has been misrepresented.
"The media curiosity and enquiries are quite understandable as they constitute the watchdog and voice of the public. As a matter of fact, we regard the media as one of LAMATA's most powerful allies. What has been a bit puzzling to us at LAMATA is the misrepresentation of the unambiguous clarification expressed by the Managing Director/CEO, Dr Dayo Mobereola, in direct interviews with various media correspondents", Dada said.
According to him, during such interviews, Mobereola reassured that the light rail system remains an integral part of LAMATA's mandate.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the light rail system is still a major component of the strategy by the Lagos State government and LAMATA to tackle the chaotic transportation situation in Lagos metropolis and facilitate a sustainable and effective integrated transport system. It has neither been shelved nor suspended", he said.
"Media correspondents have come claiming they learnt there was a plan to suspend the light rail system or replace it with the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. And we have always asked them for their sources, which, in exercise of their right and obligation, they would not disclose. But certainly not Dr. Mobereola or any LAMATA spokesman or official", he declared.
He said the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system was not a replacement for the light rail, but it will come on stream ahead, because it will take a much shorter duration to put in place. "Whereas the BRT could be completed within three years, it will take at least five years to design, construct and commence operation of the light rail system", he said, stressing that LAMATA has always been quick to allay fears that adoption of the BRT system might lead to dropping the light rail plan.
He said the two systems were complementary in solving the transportation problems within the metropolis and assured that the plan for a rapid light rail line from Okokomaiko to Mile 2 was very much on course.
He said a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement was being finalised with a foreign partner for the project.
"We have made this clarification in our belief that the media constitutes one of our most powerful allies in the development of an effective and efficient transportation system", he said.
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