The first phase of the Lagos State Blueline metroline project from Marina to Mile 2, Lagos is completed and will be opened to the public from next month (April).
This was disclosed by the Director of Corporate Communications of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mr. Kolawole Ojelabi during a demonstration ride on the metroline for a selected group of tourism industry practitioners.
The practitioners were led by the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) Vice President, South West, Mr. Tunde Kolade. The trip took off from Lagos Marina terminal of the metroline, to Mile 2 and back to the Marina terminal.
Ojelade said the Blueline, when operational next month, is expected to convey more than 250,000 passengers daily and will operate every 20 minutes. He explained further: “The Blueline is one of the six rail lines in our strategic transport master plan. It is a 27-kilometre rail route, but like it is done anywhere in the world, we’ve just completed the construction of the first phase of 13 kilometers. The entire corridor is 27 kilometres to Okokomaiko. So, we are doing the first 13 kilometres, and this is the hardest part of it, because we have five kilometres elevated.
The first phase is supposed to carry about 250,000 passengers daily. We have three train sets. For everything, we have about 12 cars.”
FTAN Vice President, South West, Mr. Kolade Tunde described the experience as fantastic, saying it will boost tourism in the state. He said: “It is going to boost tourism in Lagos because it will ease movement around Lagos, and reduce time spent in traffic in the metropolis.
“It is a laudable project from Lagos State and it promotes tourism in the state. Now you can go on simple adventure on the metroline from one end of Lagos to another.”

The President of Lagos Hoteliers Association, Oluomo Jamiu Talabi, said the experience was really exciting. He added: “ If I had not come here, I will really miss. It is an experience one needs to have. It will become part of the tour packages that we put together in Lagos State. Like I told some of the stakeholders that were on board, it is a privilege for us as stakeholders in tourism, to go back to our various offices and plan packages around this. There are lots of opportunities around the metroline concept. For me in terms of improvement of Lagos as a destination, this is the biggest that I have seen. This aspect is fantastic. It is a good experience. Seriously, it is going to impact greatly. Right inside there, I was talking with one of my colleagues that within 40 minutes, from Lagos Marina, we have gone to Mile 2 and back, so what do I need a car for? The road will be less busy; the roads will last longer rather than government repairing the roads year after year. and of course, it will improve our health.”
Also speaking, the chairman of Association of Tourism practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), Mr. Apata Samson Nunayon said the metroline would boost tourism business in the state and commended the state government for the efforts.
A tour operator and managing director of Adventurine Travels, Mrs. Modeenat Olushola also commended the state govenment but called on them to maintain the quality of service the metroline will provide. She said: “We believe that tourism can do more for this country. It is the untapped sector. There is too much concentration on oil and gas. I can assure everybody that tourism is the future of this particular generation and others.
“So, this transportation system is going to boost the tourisms sector because it will reduce the time spent on the road. However, we would want the government to maintain the standard. It is not just enough to start, we should improve our maintenance culture. So, if they can sustain this standard that we saw this morning, I can tell the government that the sky is our beginning. “