The Lagos State Government has outlined an ambitious plan to complete the 68-kilometre Green Line of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) within five years, pending the availability of adequate funding. The rail route, which is set to stretch from Marina to the Lekki Free Zone, is a central feature of the state’s broader urban and transportation development strategy.
This timeline was revealed by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, during a project scoping workshop held in Lagos. A statement posted on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) detailed Dr Olumide’s remarks, noting that the Green Line is expected to trigger new urban growth centres across the state.
“Dr. Olumide highlighted the rail line’s potential to spur transit-oriented development (TOD) during the project’s scoping workshop in Lagos where critical stakeholders got a comprehensive briefing on the 68-kilometre rail route transport project.
“The Commissioner stated that phase one of the project, which would end at Sangotedo, is scheduled to start shortly. He also disclosed the government’s long-term goal to finish the full Green Line project within five years, contingent on funds availability,” the statement read.
The Green Line, which is part of Lagos’ Strategic Transport Master Plan, is envisioned to play a transformative role in both easing the city’s chronic traffic congestion and enabling urban expansion. Dr Olumide further emphasised that the initiative is not just a transport solution but a catalyst for economic and spatial development, particularly in growth corridors such as Ibeju-Lekki, Epe and Eti-Osa.
The proposed route will commence at Marina, running through the foreshore of Walter Carrington Avenue, then follow the median of Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue before reaching Abraham Adesanya. From there, it will veer left towards the planned Ibeju-Lekki Airport, ultimately linking up with the Lekki Free Zone.
Dr Olumide underlined the significance of the Green Line as a critical element in building the “new Lagos,” integrating land use with transport infrastructure to foster long-term growth. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that the five-year deadline is heavily reliant on the consistent availability of funding throughout the project lifecycle.
In a related announcement, the Commissioner reminded property owners across the state about the legal necessity for securing building approvals, warning that violations could attract severe sanctions.
The state government has expressed its intention to complete the full Green Line before launching commercial operations, reinforcing its commitment to transport modernisation. In early 2025, Lagos signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) to kickstart preliminary work on the Green Line project.
According to a Nairametrics analysis of the 2025 Federal Budget proposal, N146.14 billion has already been earmarked as counterpart funding for the initiative, which is being coordinated by MOFI. With the overall federal budget having increased from N49.74 trillion to N54.9 trillion, the funding allocation may still rise.
Additionally, a tripartite agreement was reached in September 2024 between Lagos State, MOFI and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to design, finance and manage the operation of the rail project, further strengthening the public-private collaboration essential for its success.