The Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line System has begun its long-awaited commercial operations.
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, became the first passenger to ride on the train during its inaugural ride as operations began on Monday.
The governor boarded the train from the Marina terminal enroute Mile 2.
The train commenced the trip from Marina train station to Mile 2 around 9:13am on Monday.
During the trip, the train had brief stops at the national theatre in Iganmu and Alaba, to allow some of the passengers alight.
The train arrived at the Mile 2 station at 9:35am.
At the Mile 2 station, the governor and some passengers returned with the train to Marina.
Addressing journalists after the trip, Sanwo-Olu commended the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and other stakeholders for the completion of the project.
The Lagos governor said the cowry card, an e-payment system used by all bus rapid transit (BRT), will serve as the means of payment for the train.
In January, former President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the first phase of the blue line rail project in Lagos.
Prior to the inauguration, Sanwo-Olu launched a test run of the project designed to run from Mile 2 (on the mainland) to Marina (on the island).
In June, LAMATA announced that the blue line would be open for passenger operations in August 2023.