I was angry with Ambode over his handling of Lagos rail projects – Amaechi

A former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has revealed his anger towards the former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, over how he handled the state rail projects, especially the Blue Line.

Amaechi disclosed this while speaking at the Intermodal Transportation Summit in Lagos on Wednesday organised by the Transportation Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (TCAN) with the theme, “Intermodal Transport: Prospects and Challenges.”

The former Minister recalled that the Federal Government had granted the Lagos State government the right to use the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) tracks for the Blue Line but Ambode didn’t take the project seriously.

He added that there was a monorail project in Rivers State before the Lagos Government commenced its rail project.

Lagos made history as the first sub-national to build and commission metro lines with the inauguration of the Red and Blue lines.

While the Blue Line has been in operation since August 2023, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu inaugurated the passenger operations for the Red Line on Wednesday.

Amaechi praises Sanwo-Olu for rail achievements

Meanwhile, Amaechi commended the present administration of Sanwo for taking up the projects and seeing them to completion.

“There was a 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,’” Amechi said.