In Lagos, the average journey can feel like a test of patience. For many residents, getting from point A to B is more than a commute; it’s a daily test of endurance. As of 2015, data from the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) revealed a stark transport hierarchy: minibuses, or danfos, accounted for 45% of all daily trips, followed by walking at 40%. Rail, water, and structured bus systems, such as BRT and Lagbus, barely registered – each scraping around 1% or less of total modal share. The strain on the city’s congested roads, where an estimated 24 million trips are made daily, has rendered traffic a structural drag on productivity and quality of life.
Against this backdrop, the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan (LSTMP, 2014) envisioned a shift inching towards a transit future – one characterised by steel tracks and high-capacity rail. Six urban metro rail corridors have been proposed: the Blue Line, Red Line, Green Line, Yellow Line, Purple Line, and Orange Line. The first phase of the Blue Line (Marina to Mile 2) and Red Line (Agbado to Oyingbo) are now completed and operational, with the Blue Line rail recently doubling its capacity with three new train sets.
Among these corridors, the Green Line is perhaps the most ambitious, stretching 68 kilometres from the Marina to the Lekki Free Trade Zone. The line is planned to pass through six key areas of Lagos, including Victoria Island, Lekki Phase 1, Ajah, Sangotedo, Ibeju-Lekki, and terminate at the proposed Lekki International Airport. The project will feature 17 stations (elevated and at-grade structures), a 23.4-hectare depot, and a 15-hectare park-and-ride facility.
Planned along high commuter demand corridors within the Lagos metropolis, the Green Line will do more than ease traffic as it will likely trigger real estate interest, including future developments. Already, developers and investors are monitoring the evolving trends along the corridor.
Along the Marina to Victoria Island corridor, a strong potential for high-density, transit-oriented mixed-use developments exists, featuring grocery shops, specialty stores, coworking spaces, leisure zones, and quick-service restaurants (QSRs), that appeal to both commuters and the area’s working population. The Lekki Phase 1 to Ajah stretch is poised for mid-to-upper end residential development, short-let apartments, and flexible workspaces, especially given the area’s popularity with young professionals and startups. Further down the line, areas like Sangotedo, Lakowe, and Eleko are expected to see upward movements in property prices. A wave of land banking is also likely, as both public and private sector players increasingly target these zones for near-term developments.
The Lekki Free Trade Zone, serving as the terminus and home to the Lekki Deep Sea Port and the proposed Lekki International Airport, is set to emerge as a catalytic force for development. The triad of rail, sea, and air connectivity positions the area as a strategic logistics and export hub, driving demand for warehousing, light manufacturing, and industrial facilities.
Lagos is projected to rank among the world’s largest megacities by 2050, and the city’s multi-modal transport system will be key to shaping this growth. For forward-thinking investors, developers, and policymakers, the Green Line offers a real opportunity. Positioned as a major pull factor, the line stands to redefine how people live, work, and invest across Lagos.