The Lagos State Government has announced plans to fully construct the 68-kilometer Green Line rail project, connecting Marina to the Lekki Free Zone, before commencing operations. This marks a shift from the phased approach used for earlier rail projects like the Blue and Red Lines, where operations began after completing Phase 1 while subsequent phases were still under construction.
The announcement was made by Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, during a scoping workshop held on Wednesday. The workshop marked the start of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Resettlement Policy Framework processes for the ambitious rail project.
The Green Line rail is a critical component of the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan, which aims to ease traffic congestion across the state by developing six Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines. Upon completion, the Green Line is expected to serve over 500,000 passengers daily at launch, with capacity projected to exceed one million as demand increases over time. The route will connect major areas such as Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah, and other surrounding communities.
During the workshop, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) unveiled the 68-kilometer route alignment to stakeholders. While specific details of the alignment were not disclosed, LAMATA emphasized that building the line in its entirety would ensure seamless operations from day one.
Community stakeholders, traditional leaders, government officials, and development partners attended the workshop to discuss the project’s implications. Representatives from affected communities, including Eti-Osa, Awoyaya, Alasia, and Iranla, expressed support for the initiative. Dr. Olumide urged property owners along the proposed corridor to regularize their building approval documents to avoid penalties.
Engr. Olasunkanmi Okusaga, Technical Adviser for Rail Transport at LAMATA, highlighted that the Green Line would create jobs and significantly reduce traffic congestion in Lagos. He also assured that residents affected by construction would receive fair compensation.
The ESIA process is being led by Sectec-Greenstad Consulting Limited under Dr. Mariame Mboup Fall’s leadership. China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), which has partnered with Lagos State on the project’s design, financing, and operation, was also present at the session.
The Green Line rail is backed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Lagos State and the Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI). It is one of Lagos’ priority infrastructure projects under its N1.052 trillion development budget for 2025. A review of Nigeria’s federal budget proposal shows N146.14 billion allocated as counterpart funding for the project.
