The Lagos State Government has advanced a bill to create a legal framework for a state-owned railway corporation, marking a significant step towards a formal rail transport system.
The proposed law, titled “A Bill for a Law to Establish the Lagos State Railway Corporation and for Connected Matters, 2025,” was the subject of a public hearing at the State House of Assembly.
Speaking at the hearing, the Speaker of the House, Chief Mudashiru Obasa, stated that the initiative showcases the government’s commitment to modernizing transportation and improving residents’ quality of life.
Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Mrs. Mojisola Meranda, he said the corporation would “enhance mobility, reduce road congestion, and shorten travel time across the state.”
The Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, Mr. Temitope Adedeji, emphasized the bill’s timeliness, citing Lagos’s rapidly growing population and the pressing need for a modern, reliable transport system.
“With the state standing at a pivotal point in its infrastructural and economic development, there is an urgent need to establish a robust legal and institutional framework to regulate and operate railway services efficiently,” Adedeji stated.
Reporting by Olusegun Haastrup