The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), has moved a step closer to securing African Development Bank (AfDB) financing for the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Green Line following a high-level stakeholder engagement held in Lagos.
The meeting, which took place on Friday at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, formed part of the AfDB’s appraisal mission to assess the project’s readiness and compliance with the bank’s environmental, social and institutional requirements ahead of the proposed funding.
Discussions focused on the entire Green Line project, with special attention on Phase 1A, which will stretch from the Lekki First Toll Gate to Sangotedo. The corridor is expected to ease traffic congestion, improve mobility and support economic growth along the rapidly expanding Lekki-Epe axis.
Stakeholders were briefed on the project’s route alignment, implementation strategy, land acquisition process, compensation framework and traffic management plans designed to minimise disruptions during construction. The interactive session also gave community leaders and residents the opportunity to seek clarifications and make contributions to the project.
LAMATA reaffirmed its commitment to delivering the Green Line in line with international best practices, pledging strict compliance with environmental and social safeguard standards while maintaining transparent engagement with affected communities and businesses throughout the implementation process.
The stakeholder engagement brought together senior government officials, development partners and private sector representatives, including the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Olawale Musa; and LAMATA Managing Director, Abimbola Akinajo, who led the agency’s executive management team.
The AfDB delegation was led by Task Leader Sheila Akyea, while MOFI’s team was headed by Executive Director, Investment Management, Kemi Owonubi Babalogbon, alongside Charles Ojo.
Traditional rulers, Baales from communities along the project corridor and representatives of the Lekki Estates Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA), led by Chairman Sulaimon Kolawole Bello, also participated in the engagement.
Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, as well as representatives of The Infrastructure Bank, Circle Mall, Lekki Worldwide Investments Limited, Diya Fatimilehin & Co., KPMG, AEC, Nexant and Quest Merchant Bank attended the meeting.
The LRMT Green Line is a flagship project under the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan and is expected to improve connectivity between Lagos Island and the Lekki corridor, reduce travel time, stimulate economic activities and provide a sustainable mass transit system for millions of residents.
Friday’s engagement marks another key milestone in the development of the rail project as the Lagos State Government, LAMATA, MOFI and the AfDB continue efforts to deliver modern rail infrastructure for the state.
