LAGOS BLUE LINE EXTENSION TO ALAKIJA, FESTAC, TRADE FAIR, TARGETED FOR FEBRUARY 2027, RED LINE SERVICES TO INCREASE

By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to extend operations of the Blue Line Rail to three additional stations at Alakija, Festac and Trade Fair by the end of February 2027, as part of efforts to expand public transportation infrastructure and improve mobility across the state.

The disclosure was made during a media parley organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, where officials of agencies under the ministry provided updates on ongoing and planned transport projects aimed at delivering an integrated, efficient and regulated public transportation system.

Speaking at the parley, Engr. Abimbola Akinajo, the Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) said the Blue Line, which currently operates to Mile 2, would be extended to the three additional stations in the next phase of its development.

She explained that the extension forms part of the state’s broader vision to expand the rail corridor towards Okokomaiko in phases.

On the Red Line, the LAMATA official disclosed that three additional eight-car train sets were expected to join the fleet in November 2026. The development is projected to increase the number of daily train services from nine to 20 initially, with a further increase to 28 services before the end of 2027.

Akinajo noted that the state had adopted a gradual expansion strategy for rail operations, citing the growth in Blue Line services from 12 to 92 as an indication of the approach being applied to the Red Line.

The official also announced that infrastructure works on four major Quality Bus Corridors, including their terminals and depots, were expected to be completed by February 2027.

As part of efforts to reduce emissions from public transportation, he said the state was phasing out the procurement of new diesel-powered buses, focusing instead on compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric buses in line with the broader ambition of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

She added that more CNG buses were expected to be introduced within the next five to six months, while transport unions had also demonstrated support for the initiative by providing 15 buses to strengthen public transportation services.

According to her, the collaboration between the government and transport unions is aimed at building a unified and regulated public transport system for Lagos residents.

Lagos plans 25 water transport terminals, 78 Electric Ferries 

Also speaking at the media parley, an official involved in the state’s water transport transit project disclosed that the initiative would deliver 25 terminals and jetties and introduce approximately 78 electric ferries into the existing water transportation network.

The project is also expected to incorporate an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) to improve integration between water transportation and other public transport services.

The official said the government was reviewing and redesigning ferry routes, with priority routes to be identified following updated demand studies. The initiative is intended to improve connectivity for coastal communities, provide more accessible transportation for underserved residents and help children in riverine communities access educational facilities.

He emphasised that the expansion of water transportation was designed to complement, rather than compete with, land-based transport systems.

Addressing concerns about the pace of implementation following the project’s launch, the official explained that the initiative was a five-year programme scheduled to run from 2026 to 2030, with implementation currently at the design and planning stage.

He said the first batches of electric ferries were expected to arrive in Lagos around 2028, while full commencement of operations was envisaged around 2031, subject to the delivery of the terminals and other supporting infrastructure.

The official further disclosed that two major consultancy teams had been engaged: project management and design consultants, as well as Engineering, Procurement and Construction Supervision (EPCS) consultants.

He explained that the consultants would update previous passenger-demand studies to determine the number, size and passenger capacity of ferries required for different routes. The planned ferry capacities range from approximately 50 to 400 passengers, depending on demand and operational requirements.

According to him, the government would also undertake the necessary land acquisition processes, including identifying affected properties and compensating displaced persons before construction begins.

Land acquisition activities were expected to commence in 2027, while construction could begin in 2028 or 2029, subject to the completion of the necessary processes.

The official added that the project would follow established procurement procedures, with funding support from international development partners identified during the briefing as the AFD, the European Union and the AIB.

He said that although physical construction might not yet be visible, significant preparatory work was ongoing to ensure that the infrastructure, vessels and operational systems would be properly coordinated.

The updates highlight the Lagos State Government’s continuing efforts to strengthen the integration of rail, road and water transportation to ease congestion, improve accessibility and provide more reliable mobility options for residents.

The Ministry of Transportation’s media parley provided an opportunity for officials of its agencies to explain the progress of major projects and clarify implementation timelines, while allowing journalists to seek further information on the state’s transportation plans.

The government is expected to continue expanding public transport capacity through additional rail services, improved bus infrastructure, cleaner-energy buses and the development of water transportation facilities to support the growing mobility needs of Lagos State.