The Lagos State Government has officially opened the Mushin Flyover, marking the completion of the last of five overpasses constructed along the Red Line Corridor. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu inaugurated the flyover on Saturday, highlighting its significance in enhancing public safety and improving transportation within the state.
Governor Sanwo-Olu announced the opening via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that the new overpass will play a crucial role in keeping pedestrians and vehicles away from train tracks, thereby preventing accidents. The flyover also opens new routes to Agege Motor Road, Post Office Road, and Ogunmokun, which is expected to ease travel and stimulate the local economy.
“I am pleased to share that the Mushin Flyover—the last of the five overpasses built along the Red Line corridor—is now open to traffic,” Sanwo-Olu said. He emphasized that the new infrastructure would offer a safer commuting experience and contribute to the economic vitality of the surrounding areas. The governor also mentioned that a primary school, which had to be demolished to make way for the flyover, has been rebuilt nearby.
The commissioning of the Mushin Flyover follows the earlier openings of the Agege Pen Cinema Flyover, Oyingbo Flyover, Yaba Flyover, and Ikeja Flyover. These infrastructure projects are critical components of the Lagos Red Line, a 37-kilometer metro rail project designed to alleviate the city’s traffic congestion and reduce travel time.
The first phase of the Red Line, stretching 27 kilometers from Agbado in Ogun State to Oyingbo in Lagos, was commissioned by President Bola Tinubu on February 29, 2024. This phase includes eight stations: Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo. The Lagos State Government has acquired trains for the Red Line from the United States, the United Kingdom, and China, with the line expected to initially carry 250,000 passengers daily—a figure projected to rise to 750,000 once fully operational.
In preparation for passenger service by Q4 2024, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has begun trial runs using British Rail Class 43 HST trains. These trains, capable of exceeding 120 kilometers per hour, will be regulated to 50 mph by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) for operational safety. The Red Line is anticipated to reduce travel time between Agbado and Oyingbo to just 55 minutes, down from nearly three hours, significantly improving the daily commute for Lagos residents.