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00:00 The Lagos Blue Line Rail, which came into commercial operations on the 4th of September
00:08 2023 after the official launch on the 21st of December 2022, has brought so much relief
00:14 and so-called to commuters on the Marina Ojo Corridor.
00:18 The exciting development when fully operational is expected to carry 500,000 passengers daily.
00:26 Currently, the estimated daily passenger capacity is 175,000 passengers.
00:34 But has the coming of the Lagos Blue Rail impacted the city's popular yellow buses
00:39 also known as Danfo?
00:41 How are operators of commercial buses and passengers adjusting to their new reality?
00:46 The Guardian Nigeria went out today to see what commuters and commercial drivers think
00:51 about the latest means of transportation.
00:54 Here's how they felt.
00:56 The Blue Rail is very effective and it's very nice.
01:01 The Blue Rail you cannot compare it with other motor.
01:04 From here to my home, I have moved from here to my home so many times.
01:09 I appreciate the governor but the price is too much.
01:13 At least it can be 150 or 100 Naira.
01:18 It's okay, very affordable.
01:21 I entered the Blue Rail 200 Naira from here to my home.
01:25 I was able to park my motor.
01:28 I do go home with it and come back in the morning.
01:33 The people who are there, they cannot enter the train.
01:36 The people who are poor, they cannot enter the train.
01:39 From CMS to Olile, the 350 is too much.
01:43 Transport bus, some people they collect 200 Naira from here to CMS.
01:48 So government can help people to be 150 Naira.
01:53 It's a good thing.
01:56 This very train is good for us.
01:59 It's normal.
02:01 Nobody wants to see good things.
02:03 When they see good things, it's not good for them.
02:07 The train is working.
02:08 We are the commercial drivers.
02:11 We are working.
02:12 The train has no effect on my work.
02:14 I am working.
02:17 I do my own work.
02:19 If the train is working, the train will carry its own money.
02:22 I will carry my own money.
02:24 If you want to enter the train, you enter.
02:26 If you want to enter the commercial, you enter.
02:27 I would say it's not affecting us.
02:28 Because if you go to something like Kosho,
02:30 you will have something like a train there.
02:32 Where the train is going is not where we are going.
02:35 All of us are not going in the same direction.
02:37 You can see people are benefiting inside here.
02:38 Now it's people who are going to Aja.
02:41 In our own commercial bus, it's easier for us to go to Edimata.
02:45 We can go to CMS, Orwando and Aja Park.
02:49 They are stopping at different places.
02:50 So these trains are not disturbing us like that.
02:53 If you want to enter, you enter.
02:56 It's your choice.
02:58 It doesn't affect our business.
03:00 It doesn't affect their own business.
03:03 It's a matter of what choice.
03:05 We have been experiencing bad roads.
03:08 And also when we are on the bad road,
03:11 we consume a lot of fuel, a lot of diesel.
03:14 And in the process, we may not get enough passengers
03:16 because the road is not smooth.
03:19 People will not like to enter the train.
03:21 We are not seeing a lot of passengers
03:23 because nobody wishes to be on the traffic.
03:25 It was a good development.
03:27 It's supposed to have come on stream for long.
03:31 But God's time is the best.
03:35 The introduction of a modern rail transport system in Lagos
03:38 is not merely a transportation upgrade.
03:41 It symbolizes a leap into a brighter, more efficient future
03:45 for the city and its over 20 million residents
03:47 who are constantly on the move.
03:49 Upon the successful completion of the landmark Blue Rail
03:52 projects, it is anticipated that congestion will diminish,
03:56 accessibility will be improved, and the overall quality of life
04:00 in Lagos will be elevated.
04:01 How has the Blue Rail mass transit
04:03 affected commuting for you?
04:05 Do let us know in the comments.
04:08 [MUSIC PLAYING]
04:11 (upbeat music)
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