The Lagos State Government has officially announced the launch of the groundbreaking $3 billion Green Line Rail initiative, with construction slated to commence in December 2025. This state-of-the-art rail network aims to seamlessly link the bustling Marina district with the rapidly expanding Lekki corridor, set to transform transit dynamics along this vital corridor.
Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Lagos State’s Commissioner for Transportation, highlighted the Green Line as a significant leap forward in the city’s transportation infrastructure. The project will unfold in phases over the next two to three years, beginning with the stretch from Lekki First Tollgate to Epe, followed by an extension from Marina that will traverse several waterways.
Extensive feasibility analyses have been completed, coupled with thorough consultations involving local residents, traditional leaders, and business stakeholders along the Lekki-Epe corridor. These efforts are designed to ensure the project respects community interests and minimizes construction-related disruptions.
“We have engaged all relevant parties and finalized comprehensive feasibility studies along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in preparation for the Green Line’s December launch,” Osiyemi explained. “The initial segment will cover the route from Lekki First Tollgate to Epe, then extend towards Marina, including sections crossing water bodies.”
Alongside the rail development, the Lagos State Government is intensifying initiatives to remove illegal structures along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, rehabilitate wetlands within the project’s corridor, relocate informal traders, and enhance drainage systems to support the new transit infrastructure.
Designed to alleviate the severe traffic congestion afflicting the fast-growing Lekki-Epe corridor, the Green Line will serve an area witnessing a surge in residential developments, commercial hubs, and major economic projects such as the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Dangote Refinery, and the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
Spanning approximately 70 kilometers, the rail line will connect Marina on Lagos Island to the Lekki Free Trade Zone, featuring 17 stations along a combination of elevated and ground-level tracks. Key neighborhoods served will include Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah, Sangotedo, and Epe, linking essential residential and commercial centers.
The stations will boast contemporary architectural designs equipped with pedestrian bridges, elevators, escalators, and advanced ticketing systems akin to those on the existing Blue and Red Line networks. A central maintenance depot near Sangotedo will manage train servicing and storage, complemented by a 15-hectare parking facility near the Lekki Free Trade Zone to facilitate park-and-ride commuters.
Green Line trains will operate with eight-car B-type sets capable of reaching speeds up to 100 kilometers per hour, with trains arriving roughly every three minutes. The system is projected to transport up to 35,000 passengers per hour in each direction, cutting travel time between Marina and Epe to under an hour.
With an estimated cost of $3 billion (approximately ₦4.5 trillion at current exchange rates), the project has secured ₦146.14 billion in the Federal Government’s 2025 budget. A tripartite agreement has been inked with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to oversee the design, financing, construction, and operation of the rail line under a public-private partnership framework.
On April 9, 2025, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) unveiled a comprehensive video presentation detailing the project’s design, route, and funding model. The presentation confirmed CHEC as the contractor, with LAMATA set to manage operations upon completion.
While urban planners and transport specialists have lauded the initiative, some concerns have been voiced regarding station spacing, particularly the wide intervals in areas like Victoria Island and Lekki Phase 1, which may limit accessibility and reduce ridership potential.
Questions have also arisen about whether the eight-car train sets will adequately meet future demand, given the corridor’s rapid population growth. Experts suggest adding more stations in densely populated zones and ensuring seamless integration with other existing or planned rail lines to optimize connectivity.
For commuters along the Lekki-Epe corridor, the Green Line represents a promising solution to the chronic traffic congestion that currently extends travel times to as long as four hours during peak periods.
Nonetheless, concerns persist about potential construction-related disturbances, including road detours, noise pollution, and displacement of properties. The government has pledged transparent communication, fair compensation for affected residents, and efforts to minimize disruptions to daily life.
Commissioner Osiyemi reiterated the administration’s commitment to delivering a dependable, efficient, and affordable transit system tailored to Lagos’s expanding population.
“The Green Line transcends being merely a transportation project,” Osiyemi emphasized. “It aims to enhance quality of life, attract investment, and generate employment. This initiative will unlock new economic opportunities throughout the Lekki-Epe corridor and beyond.”
The Green Line forms a crucial component of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) network, which also includes the operational Blue Line and the ongoing Red Line project. The long-term vision encompasses six major rail lines across Lagos, creating an integrated public transport system that combines trains, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and ferry services.