LAMATA reacts to viral video of men pushing recently-commissioned Lagos Blue Line Rail

The trending video of some men pushing one of the Blue Line
Rail trains has elicited severe criticism on social media.

The Marina Terminal (Marina – Mile 2) of the multi-billion
naira 13km line was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari in January.

Nigerians are mocking the authorities over the video, which
the Lagos State Government on Sunday labelled propaganda.

“Why would you commission a project then pause the service?
Why would people push the train? No safety measures were even taken,” @TheOdor3
tweeted.

“Commissioned” for those saying it’s a test run. Lagos State
Government invited Mr President for the purpose of commissioning projects. Dem
dey test run wetin dem don commission?” @mandu_preye quipped.

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA)
issued a statement via Corporate Communication official, Kolawole Ojelabi.

LAMATA said the agency had seen a “doctored video clip
showing four people purportedly pushing one of the train sets about to be
deployed for passenger operations.”

“We discovered that the train was clearly moving, and these
people purportedly “pushing” the train were behind it doing God knows what.

“From the average length of the trains, even 20 people can’t
push it. Four people can’t push a container truck, talk less of a four-car
train set.”

The spokesperson appealed to the public to be wary of “those
bent on doing everything possible to discredit the rail project”.

Ojelabi added that residents who have interacted with the
Lagos rail system know it’s “a game changer”.

Video:

😭 He said dead on arrival? pic.twitter.com/yaVBoD28ik

— 🐬 @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) April 1, 2023