Lagos State Govt Donates 25 New Patrol Vehicles Into RRS Fleets - PHOTOS

Lagos State Government through the State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) today handed over 25 patrol vehicles to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

The vehicles were this afternoon handed over to the new State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumusu at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Presenting the vehicles on behalf of the Chairman and Board of the fund, the Executive Secretary, Abdulrrazaq Balogun stated that the vehicles were part of the periodic injection of additional vehicles to enhance the operational coverage and increase their visibility of police in the state.

Balogun added that the provision of additional vehicles would assist the police in combating crime, especially at the yuletide period when a crime is always on the rise.

He noted that the fund appreciated the strides of RRS in combating crime in the state adding that the feedback it has been getting from Lagosians on the assistance of the squad has been very positive. He added that the funds would continue to support the squad.

He thanked the donors for supporting the funds and members of the Nigerian Police Force for committing their lives towards the safety of lives and property of the people.

Receiving the vehicles, the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu assured that the police would make judicious use of the vehicles.

He stated that the handing over of the vehicles would serve as a challenge to the police to ensure that the lives and property of people are protected at all times.

He thanked funds but also solicited for more logistics to enhance the operational performance of the police in the state.

RRS Rescued Bus Driver Who Got Sick While On Motion On 3rd Mainland Bridge - Photos

Also in attendance were the Commander, Rapid Response Squad, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu and Assistant Commissioner of Police Adewale Ajao.

Lagos Metro Rail: An Overview Of The True State Of Lagos Rail - PHOTOS

It was reported in the news over the weekend that the Lagos State Government has set 2022 as the take-off year of the much-awaited Lagos Metro Rail. As good as this news may be, it is, however, embarrassing that a state like Lagos State can not complete a 27km railway line that will run from  Okokomaiko-Iddo-Marina Line.

Let's quickly do a timeline review of this railway history, according to Wikipedia, these are the timelines.

- 2008: A metro is proposed for Lagos, allegedly with a completion date of 2011.
- 2009: Construction commences on the Blue Line.
- 2010: Lagos Rail Mass Transit to proceed.
- 2016: Phase I (the Blue Line from Marina to Mile 2) planned to open in December 2016.
- 2018: After an Alstom review of the project, Phase I (the Blue Line from Marina to Mile 2) is now set to open in December 2022.

The first section of the network, Phase I of the Blue Line, was originally planned to be completed in 2011. After many delays caused by funding shortfalls, the opening date was revised to 2022.

READ: An Update Into The Lagos Light Rail Projects: The Sights, The Feels And The Vibes

The mass transit rail project called the Blue Line awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation had suffered many delays due to the paucity of funds and other challenges. The Lagos Light Rail started 2008, same time Ethiopia started its railway and so far, they have been at the same location for the past four years.

For some of us who ply the Eko-Bridge, Leventis and Apogbon area at Lagos Island, you must have noticed some giant beams which are built close to the main bridge. The bridge belongs to the Lagos Light Rail, this is the carriage for the train that will stop at CMS.

It will be recalled that the idea of developing rapid transit in Lagos dates from 1983 with the Lagos Metroline network conceived by the Alhaji Lateef Jakande during the Second Nigerian Republic. The initial Metroline project was scrapped in 1985 by Pres. Muhammadu Buhari at a loss of over $78 million to the Lagos taxpayers. The idea of developing a light rail network for Lagos was revived by Lagos former Governor, Bola Tinubu in the early 2000s with a formal announcement of its construction in December 2003.

This initial $135 million proposal was part of the greater Lagos Urban Transportation Project to be implemented by the newly formed Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).  LAMATA initially concentrated on developing a Bus Rapid Transit system, running from Mile 12 to Lagos Island. In 2008, LAMATA began also to make progress with the rail project, focusing initially on the Blue Line and the Red Line.

RELATED: The True State of Lagos Light Rail Marina Axis - Photos

With over 22million people all using the road as a means of transportation says a lot about the state of our roads. Now that the Lagos State government has finally wakened up from its slumber all thanks to the traffic the people are going through daily with the bad roads which makes driving hellish for motorists, the Lagos Metro Rail will go a long in reducing hours of traffic time and also help to preserve the roads.

It will be recalled also that Abuja Light Rail Blue Line is completed, Abuja - Kaduna rail is completed, Lagos - Ibadan rail is nearing completion. All of these constructions started after the Lagos Blue Line which is in shadows of itself with no life at all.

A visit to the site shows that the workers and contractors have all abandoned the project as weeds and area boys have taken over the place. When you pass through CMS which ought to have a terminal shows nothing as the equipment of the CCECC have been moved close to Marina Statehouse.

AutoReportNG went out to capture the sights and sounds of the Lagos Light Rail, we covered the Lagos Island axis, you can be the judge. Except miracle happens, The proposed 2022 will be a facade.

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Lagos CBD Strategise Towards Hitch Free Operations

The need for all Government Agencies and Security Operatives to harmonize and synergize their operations in the Lagos Central Business District has been emphasized.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business Districts, Prince Olarenwaju Elegushi expressed this at an MDA’s stakeholders meeting organized for government agencies operating within the Lagos Island Central Business District.

Read: These Are The Duties and Functions of LASTMA, VIO and FRSC Officers

Flagging off discussion at the meeting organized to brainstorm and deliberate on how to take CBD to the next level in tandem with the megacity status, the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on CBD, Honorable Sola Giwa, said that all government agencies must see themselves as one and must be fully prepared to ensure that the original master plan of the Lagos Island Business District is maintained and protected.

He stressed that all agencies of government must work in harmony and unity of purpose to attain the desired goals of making shopping and trading on the Island stress-free.

In his address, the Special Adviser said “over 3 million shoppers and traders commute the Lagos Island daily and this result to the high influx of people with its attendant security, waste, traffic and emergency issues which one Agency of Government cannot handle alone effectively. We must, therefore, synchronize our operations to meet the attendant large volume of challenges daily”.

The Special Adviser said that Government Agencies cannot be working at cross purposes and expect a positive effect on service delivery and attainment of set goals and objectives of the Lagos State Government.

He, therefore, advised that agencies of government with the intention of carrying out operations within the Lagos Island CBD should notify his office before embarking on such activities so that logistics and security cover can be provided for hitch-free operations.

RELATED: CAUTION: Lagos State Government To Close Lagos-Badagry Expressway For 2 Days

While disclosing their various activities and operational plans on the Lagos Island Business District, stakeholders at the meeting drawn mainly from the LASTMA, LAWMA, LASEMA, Lagos State Fire Services, Lagos State Ministry of the Environmental, Lagos State Resilient Office, Ministry of Physical Planning and urban Renewal, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Agency amongst others agreed on the need for proper harmonization of operations of agencies for effective service delivery in the Lagos Island Central Business District.

Issues bothering on waste management, traffic control, environment, health and physical planning as well as security and fire safety were discussed with the resolve to have a standing committee to address areas of friction that may arise in the line of duties of agencies.

Check Out These Nigerian Made Boats That Lagos Govt Wants To Buy- PHOTOS

Lagos State government has assured local boat builders of patronage, not only to strengthen the economy but to enhance interest in water transportation and decongest the roads in line with the vision of making water transportation one of the best alternatives to road travel.

The Managing Director, Lagos State Ferry Services (LAGFERRY), Mr. Abdoulbaq Ladi-Balogun gave the assurance during an inspection tour of two major boat factories, V-Craft and Sierra Craft, in Lagos State on Monday.

He affirmed the government's commitment to efficient water transportation system, saying LAGFERRY has been mandated to identify and patronise local builders who have the capacity to build and adhere strictly to international standard practises.

READ: Lagos Ferry To Start Operations In November - See What The Ferries Look Like

“We want to build an eco-system and ensure everybody is carried along in achieving the multi-modal transportation initiative of the present administration to decongest the roads, so any manufacturer that meets our criteria will be patronised. We want to encourage local investors, particularly those that have an interest in water transportation to patronise the manufacturers of these boats”, he stated.

While disclosing the State government's intention to roll out commercial ferry services in the next couple of weeks, Ladi-Balogun assured Lagosians of a new experience in water transportation driven by the latest technology and built on safety, reliability, efficient services, comfort and value for money.

Responding, the Managing Director, Sierra Craft, Mr Olusegun Jaji expressed delight at the interest of the State government in developing local water transportation, especially with assurances to local builders that they would enjoy government patronage, expressing his delight at this administration’s commitment to improving and increasing water transportation.

He asserted his company's capability of producing and delivering world-class boats of international standard as required by the State government, maintaining that industry players are also ready to key into the vision of the present administration to improve water transportation as a means of decongesting the heavy traffic situation on Lagos roads.