Lagos is preparing to extend its Blue Line rail service beyond Mile 2, with three new stations in FESTAC, Alakija and Trade Fair expected to begin operations by the end of February 2027. The expansion will increase the number of operational stations from five to eight, bringing rail transport closer…...
Lagos is preparing to extend its Blue Line rail service beyond Mile 2, with three new stations in FESTAC, Alakija and Trade Fair expected to begin operations by the end of February 2027.
The expansion will increase the number of operational stations from five to eight, bringing rail transport closer to residential communities, markets and businesses along the Lagos–Badagry corridor.
Here are seven things to know about the expansion and what it means for commuters.
1. The Blue Line began commercial operations in 2023
The Lagos Blue Line commenced commercial operations on September 4, 2023, with a 13-kilometre route linking Marina to Mile 2.
The first phase opened with five stations: Marina, National Theatre, Iganmu, Alaba and Mile 2.
READ ALSO: ICYMI: Lagos Blue Line To Add Three Stations By February 2027 — LAMATA
However, the project dates back several years. Plans for a metro rail system in Lagos emerged in 2008, while construction began around 2009. Funding challenges and implementation delays prolonged the project before the first phase eventually became operational in 2023.
2. The rail service has transported over nine million passengers
The Blue Line marked three years of commercial operations in September 2026, with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) reporting significant growth in passenger numbers and train services.
TVC News Online had in September reported that the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) revealed that the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line has transported more than nine million passengers in over 70,000 trips since it commenced commercial operations.
In a post on X marking the third anniversary of the service, LAMATA said commercial operations on the Blue Line commenced on September 4, 2023, with the service initially running 12 trips daily. The line now operates about 94 trips per day, with trains arriving at 10-minute intervals during peak periods and an operational reliability rate of approximately 99.5 per cent.
Despite the growth, ridership remains below the original target of carrying up to 150,000 passengers daily on the first phase.
LAMATA has identified last-mile connectivity, train capacity, maintenance, power supply and fare sustainability as some of the challenges affecting the service.
3. Three new stations will open beyond Mile 2
The planned extension will take the Blue Line westward beyond Mile 2, which currently serves as the western terminus.
The three stations expected to begin operations by the end of February 2027 are FESTAC, Alakija and Trade Fair.
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Their opening will increase the number of operational stations from five to eight, giving commuters in the areas direct rail connections towards Marina and other parts of Lagos Island.
LAMATA says the expansion is intended to improve connectivity, widen access to mass transit and provide commuters with an alternative to road transportation.
4. FESTAC station will serve a major residential community
The proposed FESTAC station is expected to improve transport access for residents of FESTAC Town, one of Lagos’s major planned residential communities.
5. Alakija and Trade Fair stations will improve access to residential and commercial areas
The Alakija station is expected to serve densely populated residential and commercial communities along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway.
Its inclusion in the extension is intended to connect surrounding neighbourhoods to the rail network and improve access to other parts of Lagos.
The Trade Fair station, meanwhile, will serve the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, a major commercial destination that attracts traders, shoppers and logistics operators.
Together, the three stations will bring rail services closer to housing estates, schools, markets and businesses along the corridor.
6. The three stations are part of a larger six-station extension
The planned opening of FESTAC, Alakija and Trade Fair represents the first instalment of Phase II of the Blue Line project.
The wider extension is designed to cover approximately 14 kilometres from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko, adding six stations in total. The planned stations are: FESTAC, Alakija, Trade Fair, Volkswagen, Lagos State University (LASU), Okokomaiko.
The project also includes a major maintenance depot at Okokomaiko to support rail operations.
7. Full completion is targeted for 2027
The Lagos State Government is targeting the completion of the remaining infrastructure in 2027.