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Blue Line, BRT commuters recount cost saving on Lagos-Badagry route

Published

1 year ago

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…but tenants groan as house rent soars

For Lagos residents along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway (LBE), it is a new dawn as the combined effect of Blue Line rail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) operations has lowered transportation costs by over 30 percent.

The two public transport systems have been operating on that axis in the last two months and, incrementally, they have been getting patronage from residents who spend less than N500 to commute from Okokomaiko to CMS by BRT and less than N400 from Mile 2 to Marina by via the Blue Line rail.

For those reasons, commercial buses which had been charging commuters between N1000 and N1,4000 from Okokomaiko to CMS have been compelled to crash their charges to between N700 and N900 depending on the time of the day.

“It is a huge relief for me as a person. Even though I don’t patronise any of the two public transportation systems because I cannot endure the waiting, I still enjoy the benefit of their operations in this axis,” Funso Adebayo who lives in Ijanikin, but works on Lagos Island, told BusinessDay.

Adebayo recalled commuters’ ugly experience on that axis when the Federal Government removed fuel subsidy with the attendant petroleum price hike. “From my bus stop in Ijanikin, commercial buses were charging N700 to Mile 2. From there, you will pay N600 to CMS. But today, I pay N400 to Mile 2 and because of the train and BRT, buses now charge N300 to CMS,” he said.

For now, the Blue Line rail takes off from Marina on Lagos Island and empties passengers at its massive station at Mile 2 while the BRT takes commuters from either CMS or Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) to Volks, Barracks, Iyan-Iba and Okokomaiko on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

According to the Lagos State Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA), the operation of the rail system will also be extended to Okokomaiko in its final phase. Work on the second phase is already ongoing as BusinessDay observed recently.

By the time this is done, transportation costs on this corridor will hit the bottom and that will be a huge relief for residents of this area which is considered one of the ungoverned areas in Lagos.

“I have been living in this axis for the past 20 years and I have seen it all on this expressway,” Celestine Igboamalu who, until recently, was a clearing and forwarding agent in Apapa, told BusinessDay.

“On this very expressway, we have seen brazen armed robbery; we have seen traffic gridlock that kept commuters on the road till 12 midnight and beyond; today, all these have almost gone and people now move faster and pay less to get out of this place to other locations in town,” Igboamalu enthused.

On the flip side, however, Lagosians in this corridor who live in rented accommodation are contending with soaring house rent as landlords are taking advantage of rising demand to jerk up their house rent.

Though the expansion and reconstruction of the expressway has been delayed since its commencement in 2009 by Babatunde Fashola as governor of Lagos, people have been moving to that axis to take advantage of the opportunities which that piece of infrastructure has on offer.

BusinessDay findings show that this movement has increased since after the commencement of operations by both the BRT and the rail transportation systems. This is what landlords around Mile 2, Oluti, Alakija-Abule, Ado, Ojo-Alaba, Okokomaiko, Ijanikin, and Agbara–Badagry axis had been waiting for.

Rents and house prices in this axis have gone up significantly. Betty Morankeji who lives in Agric near Ojo Barracks told our reporter that the rent she pays for her 2-bedroom apartment has moved from N180,000 per annum to N240,000 per annum.

Similarly, a woman who identified herself simply as Mummy P and lives in a moderate estate at Ijanikin told BusinessDay that three-bedroom houses they bought at the estate for N8 million now sells for between N15 million and N18 million depending on the level of finishing.

She added that those who put those houses for rent at N350,000 per annum when they bought are now charging between N500,000 and N750,000 per annum depending on the level of finishing.

The developer of the estate, who did not want his name mentioned, told BusinessDay that what is happening with rent and house prices was expected, explaining that the value of real estate normally rises with the availability of infrastructure such as the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

“More people are moving towards this area and so demand for rented accommodation has gone up which provides enough grounds for landlords to increase their rent. In the coming months and years, we are going to see more estate developers invest in that axis which is now seen as the new Lekki on the Lagos Mainland,” the developer said.

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Former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Spends Second Night In EFCC’s Cell Over N1.3 Trillion Alleged Fraud

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12 hours ago

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November 7, 2024

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Immediate past governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, who was arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has spent second night in the custody of the anti-graft commission.

 

Okowa is currently being investigated and detained over the alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion.

 

The N1.3 trillion reportedly represents the 13% derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023.

 

According to sources within the commission, Okowa was invited to the EFCC office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he’s subsequently detained by officials.

 

One of the sources stated, “Okowa was at our Port Harcourt office following an invitation from investigators probing the allegations against him. He was then arrested. The commission is investigating him regarding the N1.3 trillion 13% derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023.

 

“He is also accused of failing to account for the funds, as well as another N40 billion he allegedly claimed was used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas. He reportedly bought shares worth N40 billion in one of the country’s major banks, representing an 8% equity stake, to support the offshore LNG project. The funds are alleged to have been misappropriated for other purposes.

Investigators are also examining the alleged diversion of funds by the former governor to acquire estates in Abuja and Asaba, Delta State. He is currently being held at the EFCC facility in Port Harcourt.

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Lagos Government Shuts Down Redeemed Church, Celestial Church, Clubs, Event Centres Over Noise Pollution

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24 hours ago

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November 6, 2024

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The Lagos State government has shut down a branch of Pastor E. A. Adeboye’s Redeemed Christian Church of God, a Celestial church, nightclubs and event centres over noise pollution.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who made this known on Wednesday, said the churches, clubs and event centres were sealed on Tuesday by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) in the Ogudu, Gbagada, Iyana Ejigbo, Isolo, Ajao Estate, Oshodi, Ilasamaja, and Okota areas of the state.

The sealed establishments include: Redeemed Christian Church of God, Celestial Church of God, OMA Nightclub and Lounge, Lounge & Lodging, Bridge Spot Bar, Okiki Event Center and Hall, Emota Paradise Hotel (Phase 2), CF Hotel & Suites, House 27 Hotel & Suites, Echo Spring Hotel, and Smile T Continental Hotel.

The commissioner in a post on X said, “In a bid to address noise pollution and other environmental violations, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) took action yesterday, closing down several establishments across different parts of the state.

“This enforcement drive, focusing on areas like Ogudu, Gbagada, Iyana Ejigbo, Isolo, Ajao Estate, Oshodi, Ilasamaja, and Okota, is part of LASEPA’s continuous efforts to uphold environmental standards and safeguard public health.

“The affected establishments include Honourable Lounge & Lodging, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Celestial Church of God, OMA Nightclub and Lounge, Bridge Spot Bar, Okiki Event Center and Hall, Emota Paradise Hotel (Phase 2), CF Hotel & Suites, House 27 Hotel & Suites, Echo Spring Hotel, and Smile T Continental Hotel.”

 

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Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja: Tinubu directs flags be flown at half-mast

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1 day ago

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November 6, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu has directed that Nigeria’s national flags be flown at half mast for seven days across the country to mourn the passing of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.

The late Army chief, who was appointed by Tinubu on 19 June 2023, was said to have passed away on Tuesday night after a prolonged illness.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, in a statement on Wednesday by his office Director of Information & Public Relations, Segun Imohiosen, said the president expressed regret over Lagbaja’s death.

Akume said, “President Bola Tinubu has expressed regret following the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, after a brief illness at the age of 56.

“The President has directed that national flags be flown at half mast throughout the country for seven days in honour of the departed Army chief.

“He profoundly appreciates the services of the departed to the nation and wishes the family the fortitude to bear the great loss.”

Meanwhile, the Ministers of Defence, Mohammed Badaru and Bello Matawalle, have commiserated with the president, the military, and Lagbaja’s family over his death.

In a statement by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Henshaw Ogubike, the ministers described Lagbaja’s death as a great loss to his family, the Army, and the nation at large.

“The passing on to eternal glory shocked us at the Ministry of Defence, as our working relationship with him was commendable; he exhibited the spirit of camaraderie and cooperation with us in the discharge of our mandate.

“The late Chief of Army Staff contributed significantly to internal security operations across Nigeria and also exhibited a high level of professionalism.

“He will be greatly missed by the family, the military, and the nation, as he served the nation with commitment and dedication,” the statement added.

 

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