Reps members push for Lagos- Benin rail

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to commence the construction of a railway line linking Benin City and Lagos in order to ease traffic congestion and improve safety along the busy Lagos–Benin corridor. The motion was raised by a lawmaker representing Ovia North-East/Ovia South-West Federal Constituency of Edo State, who noted that the Lagos–Benin highway is heavily overstretched due to the absence of a viable rail alternative.

According to her, the road currently bears most of the passenger and cargo traffic moving between Lagos and several parts of southern Nigeria, which has contributed to persistent gridlock, frequent road accidents, cases of armed robbery, and other security challenges along the route.

The House therefore called on the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Railway Corporation to prioritise the project under the National Transport Master Plan to provide a faster, safer, and more efficient means of transportation.

The proposed railway project and the construction of pedestrian bridges on highways are expected to significantly reduce accidents, improve road safety, and ease the movement of people and goods along the Lagos–Benin transport corridor.

By Oshuniran Sheriff Ola