One of the core objectives of the Lagos Metacity Civic Forum (LMCF) is to bring power closer to the Lagosians by clarifying the roles of, and relationships between, governing bodies and helping citizens take a more active role in influencing the decisions made in their communities.

Notably, the LMCF champions civic engagement by exploring the ways people get involved with civic institutions and examining how those avenues of involvement can lead to better decision-making and more effective use of Lagos Metacity Region’s public resources.

Meanwhile, the idea about establishing the Lagos Megacity Region was hatched during the World Urban Forum (WUF) III United Nations Conference held in June 2006 in the City of Vancouver, a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia District in Canada. A major deliberation at the WUF III UN Conference by the UN-HABITAT’S State of the World’s Cities Report was the conferment of Megacity Status on Lagos by virtue of its population then above the threshold of 10 million inhabitants. Presently, the population of Lagos has risen far in excess of twenty (20) million inhabitants, which is considered as the threshold to qualify for the Metacity Status.

By definition geographically, the Lagos Metacity Region now spans across all the communities lying within forty-five (45) kilometers radius from the Lagos Island using Marina and Tinubu Square as the focal point of centrality. Effectively, the Lagos Metacity Region covers the entire Lagos Metropolis and the communities situated at the fringes in Ogun State.

Historically, the idea of developing a rapid transit in Lagos State dates back to 1983 with the Lagos Metroline network conceived by the then Lagos State Governor Alhaji Lateef Jakande during the Second Nigerian Republic.

However, the initiative to develop both the Blue and Red light rail lines was initiated and incorporated in the adopted spatial masterplan prepared in the year 2006 / 2007 by the defunct Lagos Megacity Region Board set up by the then Federal Government under the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo with the appointment of the late Emeritus Professor Akin Mabogunje as the Board Chairman.

Unfortunately, the unfriendly political atmosphere in the period marked by differing political party rivalry between the Federal Government and Lagos State Government, did not create the enabling business environment for the immediate implementation of the light rail transport proposal by the then Lagos State Governor, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who today is the 16th and current President of Nigeria, having assumed office on 29th May, 2023.

The Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) is network of urban rail-based systems covering six (6) major corridors and one monorail routes of high commuter traffic demand within and beyond the metropolitan Lagos extending to border areas of Ogun State. The LRMT is managed by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

Glad to say that the present Lagos State Government under Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu launched the Blue Line, its first metro rail last year September 2023. The first phase of the rail line runs from Marina
to Mile 2. The second phase, which is under construction, will run from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko. The third phase, which involves the Ogun State Government, will run from Okokomaiko to Agbara/Lusada.

The Red Line, which started commercial operations in October 2024, runs from the termina Oyingbo to Agbado with stations at Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege, and Iju. Its second phase, involving Ogun State, is expected to run from Agbado to Kajola.

The Green Line, a 68-kilometre rail project will connect Marina to the Lekki Free Trade Zone, traversing key areas such as Victoria Island, Lekki and Ajah. The Lagos State Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Federal Government Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) to kickstart the exploratory work.

The proposed Purple Line, a 60-kilometer electrified rail system, is designed to run through Redemption Camp, Mowe, Long Bridge, Isheri Osun, Igando, Iba Estate, Lagos State University, Okokomaiko and Ojo. The proposed Purple Rail Line will serve sixteen (16) stations and seamlessly integrate with existing metro and bus services to enhance connectivity. It is projected to serve over 300,000 passengers daily, and thus, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging a shift from road to rail transportation.

The Lagos State Governor, His Excellency Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has presented the investment strategy to various international investment fora including the Africa Investment Forum Market Days as the proposed Purple Line rail system represents a viable investment opportunity with promising returns on investment. The approved Lagos State Government total budget of =N=3.367 Trillion for the year ending December 31st 2025 is made up of =N=1.296 Trillion for recurrent expenditure while =N=2.071 is earmarked for capital expenditure.

On a parallel scale, the Ogun State Government, His Excellency Dapo Abiodun has demonstrated his readiness to connect with the Lagos metro rail lines in 2025. The appropriation bill tagged ‘Budget of Hope and Prosperity,’’ consist of total expenditure budget of =N=1.054 Trillion in 2025 and is shared in a breakdown with the amount of =N=453.56 Billion in recurrent expenditure and =N=600.98 Billion in capital expenditure.

As a Non-For -Profit Organisation (NPO), the LMCF seeks to be a hub for civic engagement in the Lagos Metacity Region, providing a focus of civic activity at a strategic level by:

•Creating a platform where the community, voluntary, public and private sectors learn from local people how civic engagement truly works.

•Providing the public sector, particularly the state and local governments, a platform to work in partnership with voluntary and community organizations to define issues and find solutions.

•Providing a platform to develop, test and share good practice about successful solutions by identifying how citizens influence public decisions that affect their lives.

With regard to the full implementation and to secure sustainability all of these strategic rail transport projects, the LMCF will continue to liaise with both the Lagos State Government and Ogun State Government and to create a visible platform for citizens, the organizations that represent them, business networks and Government to meet to build common ground and strengthen relationships.

Above all, given the fact that the population of the Lagos is growing at exponential rate while the infrastructure provision is growing at linear rate, the LMCF vows to continue to champion the call for the urgent consideration and approval for grant of Statutory Special Status on Lagos by the National Assembly Legislators to the privilege of receiving Federal Government Funds Allocation Annually representing one percent (1%) of the Nation’s Net Annual Revenue, which is required very urgently to fund the existing infrastructure deficits and thus, enabling to propel the Lagos Metacity Region into a Globally Competitive Metacity.