The project, presented to Finance Minister Wale Edun by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), envisions a 69.7-kilometre rail line stretching from Marina to the Lekki Free Trade Zone, with ten planned stations along the corridor.
Stations are expected at Marina, Victoria Island, Lekki 1, Ajah, Lekki 2, Ogombo, Elepetu, Eluju, Lekki Airport, and the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
Project Milestones and Budget
According to a government statement on Friday, six key milestones have been achieved:
- Completion of site investigation, data analysis, and research by CHEC (2024)
- Completion of the Feasibility Study Report (2024)
- Submission of MOFI’s application for federal borrowing plan inclusion (2024)
- Inclusion in the 2025 Federal Budget with N196 billion approved
- Signing of a Tripartite MoU between MOFI, Lagos State Government, and CHEC (2024)
- Preliminary approval of the feasibility report by MOFI and Lagos State (2025)
Despite the reported progress, urban planning and transport experts are voicing serious concerns.
“Ten Stations for 70km? Poor Planning” — Expert Critique
An urban transport expert, writing on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), sharply criticized the plan’s station spacing, warning that a limited number of stops over such a long corridor would lead to low ridership, similar to the challenges facing the Lagos Blue Line.
“Designing the Lagos Green Line with only 10 stations on a 69.7km corridor is a guarantee that this line is also going to have poor ridership like the current Blue Line despite being on a high-demand corridor,” the expert said.
The expert also singled out the plan to serve Victoria Island (VI)—a major commercial and residential hub—with only one station, calling it "terribly shortsighted" and a missed opportunity to serve one of Lagos’ densest traffic zones more efficiently.
Broader Concerns and Urban Mobility
The Lagos Green Line is part of a broader ambition to transform the city into a modern mega-city with efficient mass transit systems. However, critics argue that station density, connectivity, and last-mile access are crucial factors that the current proposal overlooks.
With just one station approximately every 7 kilometers, passengers may be discouraged by long walks, poor access, or the need for additional transport links, weakening the core purpose of a metro line—fast and accessible urban mobility.
Some stakeholders are calling for a redesign of the station plan, with more stops, especially in densely populated and high-traffic districts like Victoria Island, Lekki Phase 1, and Ajah.
As the Green Line project advances toward implementation—with federal budget backing and feasibility approvals in place—the government may come under pressure to revise the current plan to reflect commuter realities and urban transport best practices.
While infrastructure is central to Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, the efficacy and sustainability of the project will ultimately depend on whether it can serve the people effectively—a goal that critics say the current plan is far from achieving.