Ooni of Ife Acquires Bulletproof Cadillac Escalade, Tinubu Inaugurates Red Line, Mercedes Driver Detained, Lagos State Government Unveils Rail Projects
In the past week, notable events have unfolded across Lagos State, ranging from infrastructural milestones to law enforcement actions.
One significant development involved the Lagos State Police Command arraigning a 26-year-old Mercedes-Benz driver, Omorogbe Jennifer Soni.
The driver was captured on camera assaulting a uniformed female police officer in the Ajah area on February 21, 2024. The video footage circulated widely, showing Jennifer pushing the officer, Comfort Areghan, forcefully to the ground amid traffic control duties.
Following her arrest, Jennifer was promptly arraigned at the Etiosa Magistrate Court, Ajah, on February 22, 2024. She has since been remanded in the Kirikiri Female Correctional Centre until her next court appearance, scheduled for March 27, 2024.
The Lagos State Police Command reiterated the importance of adherence to the law, emphasizing that anyone found guilty of violating it would face appropriate legal consequences.
Meanwhile, on February 29th, President Tinubu officiated the inauguration of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line Phase One at the Ikeja train station. This transit system, conceptualized by Tinubu during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State 25 years ago, marks a significant advancement in the state’s transportation infrastructure.
The Red Line is poised to accommodate over 500,000 passengers daily, with 37 trips anticipated. Notably, it will drastically reduce travel time between Agbado and Oyingbo, cutting it down to just 40 minutes, a journey that typically spans over two hours by road.
The commissioning ceremony attracted prominent political figures, business leaders, and members of the diplomatic community.
In a related development, Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu announced the commencement of preliminary works on two additional rail lines: the Green and Purple lines.
These initiatives are part of the broader plan to alleviate transportation challenges within Lagos State. The Green Line, stretching over 71.49 kilometers from Marina to the Lekki Free Zone, is strategically positioned to serve the burgeoning industrial sector, including the upcoming Lagos International Airport.
Similarly, the Purple Line, spanning 54.35 kilometers from the Redemption Camp to Ojo near the Lagos State University, aims to enhance connectivity and accessibility across key areas of the state. Governor Sanwo-Olu underscored the importance of these projects in addressing the growing transportation needs of Lagosians.
On a different note, Senator Iyiola Omisore, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), presented a lavish gift to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II).
The gift, a brand new stretched bulletproof Cadillac Escalade SUV valued at over N300 million, was a gesture of appreciation from Senator Omisore to the monarch. In acknowledgment of the generous gesture, Ooni Ogunwusi paid a courtesy visit to Senator Omisore, who previously served as the deputy governor of Osun State.
The bulletproof Cadillac Escalade is equipped with advanced security features, offering both comfort and protection against potential security threats such as kidnappings and carjackings.
