Nigeria has earmarked funding in its 2026 federal budget for the first phase of Lagos’s proposed Green Line urban rail project, as authorities seek to expand mass transit capacity in Africa’s most populous city and ease chronic traffic congestion.
Local media reports said the government proposed an allocation of about 102.3-billion-naira (US$71.8 million) for the initial phase of the Green Line, which will form the third segment of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) system.
The Green Line is designed to complement and extend the existing Blue and Red lines, the first two corridors of a wider rail network planned for Lagos. Officials say the project is central to efforts to reduce reliance on road transport in a city of more than 20 million people, where gridlock is a daily feature and long commutes impose heavy economic costs.
Technical plans indicate the Green Line will run 68 kilometres and include 17 stations, linking key districts and improving connectivity between residential areas, commercial hubs and transport interchanges. Once completed, it is expected to significantly increase the capacity of the city’s rail network.
The Red Line, which began operations in 2024, is designed to carry up to 500,000 passengers per day, while the Blue Line, which entered service in September 2023, has a daily capacity of about 250,000 passengers. Despite these additions, officials acknowledge that current rail capacity still falls short of demand, leaving most commuters dependent on privately operated buses, minibuses and motorcycles.
Transport analysts say the imbalance underscores the urgency of expanding public transport infrastructure in Lagos, where road congestion contributes to lost productivity, higher fuel consumption and air pollution.
Authorities also argue that expanding the urban rail system will help address safety and comfort concerns often raised by users of private transport services. The LRMT is being developed to integrate with other public transport projects, including bus rapid transit corridors and planned intermodal hubs.
Beyond the Green Line, the Lagos rail master plan envisages four additional corridors the Yellow, Purple, Orange and Brown lines aimed at creating a comprehensive network that connects the city’s mainland, island districts and surrounding suburbs. Together, the lines are expected to reshape commuting patterns and support the city’s long-term growth.
Funding constraints and construction timelines remain key challenges, but the inclusion of the Green Line in the 2026 federal budget signals renewed momentum for the project. If delivered as planned, officials say the expanded rail network could play a pivotal role in transforming urban mobility in Lagos, one of the world’s fastest-growing megacities.
