By Cross Udo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to eradicating corruption and called on labour unions to refrain from disruptive actions.
Tinubu made the call yesterday when he inaugurated the first phase of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line project, a 37km project expected to reduce travel time and improve transportation and logistics in the state.
The President also witnessed the signing of the contract for Phase 2 of the LRMT Red Line project by the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo, and the Chairman of CCECC Nigeria Limited, Jason Zhang.
A statement issued by the President’s spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said, “Some labour unions should understand that no matter how we cling to our freedom and rights, to call for strikes within the first nine months of a new administration is unacceptable.
“If you want to directly participate in the electoral process, wait until 2027, if not, maintain the peace. Labour is not the only voice of Nigeria.”
*Inaugurates Lagos Red Line Rail project
The President, before departing for a state visit to Qatar, embarked on an inaugural train ride from the Ikeja station to the Agege station, accompanied by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor of the State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, some state governors; members of the Federal and State Executive Councils; members of the federal and state legislative assemblies; Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, and a select group of journalists.
Addressing a gathering of Nigerians at the train station in Ikeja, President Tinubu directed the Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Alkali, to ensure that the federal and subnational governments strengthen their collaboration to provide reliable, efficient, and affordable transportation systems for all Nigerians across the country.
“It is my singular pleasure to inaugurate the first phase of the LRMT Red Line to the glory of God Almighty and for the benefit of the people.
“Today, I am seriously honoured that I am a Lagosian and the first to be President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“My promise is not to let you down. We will arrive at the destination with joy, happiness, and prosperity; God willing,” he said.
Reflecting on his tenure as the former governor of Lagos State, when the vision of a modern and effective public transportation system in the state was conceived, President Tinubu described the project as a dream realized and a fulfillment of years of hard work and dedication by successive governments.
“I am very happy indeed that today is a day to remember in Nigeria’s infrastructural history, particularly Lagos, the center of excellence. Today is evidence that it is good to dream, and it is a serious validation of democracy as a form of government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
“When you put people at the center of your vision and planning, you will realize the value of democracy.
“Twenty-five years ago, I was elected to lead Nigeria’s most populous state. From the very beginning, my team and I toiled day and night with a very bare cupboard and amidst pervasive deficiency to implement a developmental vision that would transform Lagos into an economic powerhouse. Today, we are realizing that dream.
“The momentum of greatness we kickstarted a quarter of a century ago has become unstoppable progress. It is not a crime to dream and dream big. Just stay focused and make development a central focus,” he said.
Tinubu commended the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), the urban transport agency he established over 20 years ago, for its exemplary performance and implored LAMATA to sustain the momentum in completing all other phases of the Red Line project, as well as the full execution of the broader rail blueprint of the state.
He called on Nigerians to embrace change and work towards national progress.
Sanwo-Olu explained that the first phase of the project, executed by the state government, spans 37 kilometers and shares the track of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Lagos-Ibadan modernisation project from Ebute Metta to Agbado, with stations at Oyingbo, Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege, and Iju.
According to the governor, phase one of the project will transport 750,000 passengers daily at inception and 1.1 million passengers daily once it is fully operational.
“All the stations are live and ready to receive passengers,” Sanwo-Olu announced.
While speaking to reporters aboard the train during the inaugural ride, President Tinubu assured Nigerians that their lives will only become more enjoyable as modern amenities are built across the entire nation under his progressive leadership.
“This is very efficient and comfortable, and I am happy. Our transportation system must be all about the people. We have cut down imports on PMS by almost 50 per cent. We need mass transit to complement the daily efforts of citizens and make things easier for our people. And this is what this is all about. It is about the people. It is about democracy. We are happy about it,” Tinubu stated.
*There may be no 2027 elections if you don’t fix hardship, CSOs reply Tinubu
Meanwhile, the United Action Front of the Civil Society, a coalition of citizen groups and eminent civil society leaders has taken a swipe at the comments made by President Bola Tinubu where he warned the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, of disruptive action and that if it is interested in the electoral process it should meet him in 2027.
The CSO leaders tasked President Tinubu to fix the urgency foisted on the country by the unbearable hunger and hardship being experienced by Nigerians or perish the thought that there will be 2027 for him to engage Nigerians or seek their votes again
This was contained in a statement issued by the spokesperson of the United Action Front of the Civil Society, Mallam Hamisu San Turaki.
According to the statement, “the United Action Front of the Civil Society carpets the jab by President Bola Tinubu today in Lagos, while commissioning the red line, that if Labour is interested in the electoral process they should meet him in 2027 and that Labour is not the only voice of the people.
“For us, this statement by Tinubu is not only delusional but malicious against pro-people Labour Movement operating in the open society of Nigeria.
“Our well-considered position on this matter is that the way things are today in the country if nothing drastic is done to stem the tide, the masses of the Nigerian people will have no choice but be forced to storm and occupy the Aso Presidential Villa and all other Government Houses in Nigeria within the next few weeks, especially if the hunger and hardship in the country are allowed to persist and fester to the extent there may not be that 2027, which Tinubu and his co-travellers savour so much and hope for.
“Therefore, we wish to advise the Tinubu Government that rather than chastise Labour for providing an organised and peaceful voice to the pervasive anger and disenchantment in the land, they should have been commended and encouraged because alternative voices if allowed vent, could behave more ruthless and disruptive, just as history has proven to mankind that those who “make peaceful change impossible in history make violent change inevitable”
“To this end, as responsible leaders of the organised Civil Society of Nigeria, who participated fully in the national mass protest championed by Labour, we wish to caution Tinubu strongly not to see organised bodies of the open society of Nigeria like the NLC as enemies of government or politically motivated to challenge the negative economic policies of his administration but as sincere partners in progress different from sycophants and jobbers around corridors of power.”
