I Almost Got Angry With Ambode Over Lagos Metro Line – Amaechi

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has recalled how he almost got angry with the ex-governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, over the handling of the metro line project, especially the blue line.

Speaking during the Intermodal Transportation Summit in Lagos organised by the Transportation Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (TCAN) with the theme, “Intermodal Transport: Prospects and Challenge,” Amaechi said there was a monorail project in Rivers State before the Lagos State Government started its project.

According to him, the federal government had allowed the Lagos State government to make use of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) track for the red line but Ambode didn’t take the project seriously.

Amaechi, however, commended the present administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for taking up the projects and seeing them to completion.

He said, “There was monorail in Rivers State. But in all honesty Lagos State has done well in rail transportation. The place I nearly got angry was when Ambode almost gave up the blue line.

“I tried to get Ambode. I tried through the Vice-President, I reported him to the President until the new governor came. I said, “listen, we were about to close the line. There is a line the Ministry of Transport would give you based on our agreement.”

“Ambode had told me as if they were not interested. He said they were to construct it (a new track). I said, “no don’t construct, use the federal government’s corridor. There is not enough train movement, buy your own coaches and run on our tracks.”