Determined to provide an efficient transportation system for Lagos residents, the state government has awarded a contract for the first phase of the Blue Line Light Rail Project to a Chinese construction firm, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.

The government has already paid N8.05 billion, representing 70 per cent of the contract sum to the Chinese company, to design and build the 27 kilometre project expected to run from Okokomaiko to Marina.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), disclosed this on Tuesday while delivering a key note address at an annual lecture put together by Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors.

The theme of this year’s lecture was: The prospect of infrastructural development in Nigeria-Using the Lagos Light Rail as a case Study.”

Fashola, who was represented by the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority, Mr. Dayo Mabereola, revealed that the challenge of providing efficient transportation for the over 18 million residents of the state was one of the cardinal objectives of his administration when it came to power in May 2007.

He said, “Early in the life of our administration, we realised the need to explore the prospect of developing other modes of transportation other than road to enable us provide a means of moving large number of commuters within the state.