The Lagos State Government has announced that construction of the $3 billion Green Line Rail project, which will link Marina to the Lekki corridor, is scheduled to officially begin in December 2025.
The project, which is set to take two to three years, will be implemented in phases. The first phase will run from the Lekki First Tollgate to Epe, while the second phase will cover the section starting from Marina, with a portion running partly on water.
Project Details and Financial Structure
The 70-kilometre Green Line is one of the most ambitious transport initiatives in the state’s history, designed to drastically ease traffic on the congested Lekki-Epe corridor, a fast-growing area that includes the Lekki Free Trade Zone and the Dangote Refinery.
- Cost and Funding: The project is estimated to cost about $3 billion. The Federal Government has committed ₦146.14 billion in counterpart funding through the 2025 budget.
- Partnership: The line will be developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with a tripartite agreement signed with the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to design, finance, construct, and operate the line.
- Capacity: The line will feature 17 stations and is projected to carry up to 35,000 passengers per hour in each direction, reducing travel time between Marina and Epe to under one hour.
Preparation and Stakeholder Concerns
In preparation for construction, the state has intensified enforcement to clear encroachments, relocate roadside traders, and restore the project’s right-of-way.
Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State, confirmed extensive stakeholder engagement has taken place to minimize disruption, assuring residents that the project will improve the quality of life and attract investments to the corridor.
However, transport experts have raised concerns about the design:
- Station Spacing: Long gaps between stations in densely populated areas like Victoria Island and Lekki Phase 1 could limit commuter access and reduce ridership.
- Long-Term Capacity: Analysts questioned whether the eight-car train configuration would be sufficient to meet long-term passenger demand given the corridor’s rapid population growth.
The Green Line is a core component of the broader Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) network, which aims to create an integrated public transport system spanning six major rail lines.
