New Lagos-Ibadan rail line will boost economy —Alake

The Alake of Egbaland, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo on Friday said the new Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge rail line would improve the economy of Egbaland.

The monarch said this during the official test run of the standard gauge from Iju Lagos to Abeokuta on Friday.

He, however, described the event was an act of history repeating itself.

He said, “Today, history is repeating itself.

“In Egbaland in 1906, a similar event happened when the narrow gauge passed through Abeokuta and it helped to boost the economy of the people.

“This development will improve the economic standard of the people, in terms of prompt movement of goods and services within the towns and the state.”

The monarch said that the fact that train remained the cheapest means of transporting goods and people made the occasion more remarkable.

The Alake expressed optimism that the new rail line would also reduce the cost of maintaining the roads, thus making it last longer “when goods and services are moved by rail.”