Lagos is charting a bold new course in urban mobility with the proposed Green Line metro, a 68-kilometre rapid transit line designed to transform transportation in Nigeria’s commercial capital. Spearheaded by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), the Green Line aims to link Marina on Lagos Island to Lekki, easing daily congestion and powering economic growth.The rail line—currently in the planning and environmental assessment stage—is expected to serve over 500,000 passengers daily, drastically cutting travel time between the city’s central business district and one of its fastest-growing economic corridors.
Lagos, home to over 20 million residents, has long struggled with chronic traffic, especially along the Lekki–Epe Expressway. The Lagos Green Line metro promises a much-needed reprieve:
- Cut travel time from Marina to Lekki from over 2 hours to under 35 minutes
- Divert hundreds of thousands of commuters from congested roads
- Reduce carbon emissions by replacing car and bus trips with electric rail
- Open up access to jobs, markets, and business zones across the Lekki corridor
Once operational, the Green Line will complement existing and upcoming routes in the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) network, including the Blue Line (now in partial operation) and the Red Line (under development).
Lagos Green Line Metro: Powering the Lekki Economic Zone
The Green Line’s route is no accident. It is strategically aligned with Lekki’s industrial boom, connecting critical nodes such as
- Lekki Free Trade Zone—a high-growth industrial and commercial hub
- Lekki Deep Sea Port—a game-changing maritime logistics centre
- Dangote Refinery—the continent’s largest oil refinery
- Ajah and Lekki Phase 1—rapidly urbanizing residential zones
This metro line will provide critical infrastructure to support these mega-projects, attract foreign direct investment, and enhance mobility for workers, entrepreneurs, and investors.
LAMATA has confirmed that the Green Line will support high-capacity electric trains, reflecting Lagos State’s broader shift toward clean-energy transport. The project is part of a multi-modal master plan that includes- Six rail lines
- Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) expansion
- Integrated water and road transport systems
While a construction start date has yet to be officially announced, early feasibility studies are underway, laying the groundwork for what could become one of the most impactful transport projects in West Africa.
If completed successfully, the Lagos Green Line metro will:
- Integrate with other lines to form a connected rail grid
- Reduce traffic-related economic losses—currently estimated at over ₦4 trillion annually
- Improve the quality of life and productivity for millions of residents
- Serve as a template for metro development in cities like Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano
