LAMATA Secures NRC Permanent Licence, To Boost Red Line Daily Trips From 9 To 24 Trips

In a move expected to boost commuter services on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line, 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.

The 15-year operating licence was presented to LAMATA’s Managing Director, Engr. Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, at the NRC headquarters by Dr Kayode Opeifa, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

The approval gives LAMATA legal authority to operate passenger and freight services along the Red Line corridor between Agbado suburb in Ogun State and Oyingbo in Lagos while providing a stable framework for future rail expansion.

Speaking during the licence presentation and signing ceremony, the LAMATA boss noted that the approval will allow for a planned increase in Red Line operations from the current 9 daily trips to 24 trips by the fourth quarter of 2026, when additional rolling stock is expected to arrive.

According to the LAMATA boss, each of the expected new trains will be capable of carrying at least 2,000 passengers per direction, substantially boosting capacity during peak commuting periods.

While noting that LAMATA already operates 94 daily trips on the Blue Line, she reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working closely with the NRC to improve rail services, providing faster and safer transportation for millions of Lagos residents.

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.

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