…Blames Buhari for
Terminating Lagos Metro Rail Project
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sympathizes with Nigerians living and
working in Lagos for the excruciating ordeal they are facing following
the ban on the use of commercial motorcycles and tricycles (Keke Marwa)
in the state.
The party however noted that the ordeal should be blame on President
Muhammadu Buhari who, in 1985, terminated the initial Lagos Metro Rail
Line project started by the government of Alhaji Lateef Jakande to
facilitate mass transportation within Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial
nerve center, and surrounding cities.
The PDP states that had President Buhari not terminated that laudable
project by the Lagos state government, Lagosians would not be suffering
the transportation infrastructure deficit they are faced with today.
By now, Lagos state would have been boasting of state-of- the-art
transportation infrastructure and facilities with associated economic
boom like her peers in other parts of the world.
It is saddening to note that not only did the termination of the initial
metro line slowed down and almost crippled development in Lagos,
President Buhari’s current administration has also continued to fail to
take conclusive step to address the transportation challenges in Lagos,
despite outcries by Nigerians.
Furthermore, leaders of Lagos state have consistently demanded a special
status recognition for the state, expectedly, to ease infrastructural
quagmire of the state.
One would have expected that with the level of support Lagosian
reportedly gave to President Buhari in 2015 and 2019, Mr. President
would have addressed the needs of the state as a commercial nerve center
of our nation.
Moreover, the APC, as a party, has failed in calling out its Federal
Government to address the infrastructure challenges in Lagos.
Such attitude toward the development of a city such as Lagos shows that
the APC has no interest in the growth of our nation and the welfare of
our citizens.
However, without prejudice to the reasons adduced by the Lagos state
government, for us in the PDP, as a party, which has the interest and
wellbeing of the people at heart; alternatives ought to have been put in
place before this ban. Such attitude to governance is the marked
difference between our party and the anti-people APC.
The PDP therefore counsels the government of Lagos state to immediately
adopt alternatives to ease the suffering of the people as their welfare
ought to be its primary focus of governance.
The Federal Government should also apologize to Lagos state for
terminating the metro rail line and take urgent steps to address the
transport situation of the state.
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