The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has granted the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) a permanent operating licence and a long-term Track Access Agreement, a landmark regulatory approval expected to accelerate the expansion of Lagos’ rail network and significantly boost commuter services on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line.
The approval removes a major regulatory hurdle for LAMATA, giving the agency legal authority to operate passenger and freight services along the Red Line corridor between Agbado and Oyingbo while providing a stable framework for future rail expansion.
One of the immediate benefits of the approval is a planned increase in Red Line operations from the current nine daily trips to 24 trips by the fourth quarter of 2026, when additional rolling stock is expected to arrive. The expanded service is projected to substantially improve passenger capacity and reduce waiting times for thousands of daily commuters.
A key component of the arrangement is the Track Access Agreement, which allows LAMATA to share NRC’s rail infrastructure for as long as it continues operations on the corridor. Alongside this, the newly issued 15-year operating licence extends beyond the Red Line, covering the Blue Line and every future rail line developed by LAMATA within the licence period.
The approval also streamlines future rail expansion. Rather than undergoing a fresh baseline licensing process for every new corridor, LAMATA will only require a final safety and operational inspection by the Government Inspector of Railways before commencing passenger services.
