The Federal Ministry of Transportation has allocated 57 per cent of its 2025 budget to the Lagos Green Line Rail Project, a development that triggered criticism.

The allocation made Nigerians question how the ministry will manage other critical transportation projects when such a significant portion of its budget is to be channelled into a single state project.

Critics argue that this allocation is yet another example of favouritism towards Lagos State by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The Ministry of Transportation’s 2025 budget indicates that N146.14bn out of its total N256.73bn budget has been earmarked for the Lagos Green Line Rail project.

Interestingly, the funds for this project will be transferred from the Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated to the transportation ministry, despite MOFI’s original mandate of investing in Nigeria’s future.

The project represents the first phase of the Lagos Green Line Metro Rail, with additional phases expected in subsequent budgets.

However, Nigerians are alarmed by the financial strain this could place on the transportation ministry as Nigeria struggles with poor road infrastructure.

Questions have been raised over federal spending on the Lagos project. Critics are particularly puzzled as to why the Ministry of Transportation’s budget is being used to provide counterpart funding for a project overseen by MOFI.

Reacting to this, a public policy analyst, Waziri Adio said, “One glaring example is the plan to transfer N146.14bn to MOFI as counterpart funding for the Lagos Green Line Metro Rail Phase 1. This raises many questions. The proposed allocation for the metro line within a state is 65 per cent of the capital budget and 57 per cent of the entire budget of the Ministry of Transportation.

“If this is counterpart funding from a recapitalised MOFI, why is the money coming from the budget of a federal ministry? Why can’t MOFI raise its counterpart funding from the market? How was the decision arrived at that this is a project to invest federal money into, and will such a facility be available to other states outside of Lagos?”

There are also other concerns in the transport ministry’s budget. The ministry allocated N1bn for the procurement of a Land Cruiser, a Toyota Prado, three 54-seater CNG buses, and a pickup van.

Also, N150m has been earmarked for implementing performance management systems, while N40m will be spent on annual press conferences, and N70m on the digitisation of agreements and instruments.

The ministry plans to allocate N1.434bn for office construction and N100m for the monitoring and evaluation of capital budget implementation across the ministry and its agencies.

Other notable allocations include N100m for the purchase of sporting equipment and participation in the Federation of Public Service Games and another N100m for e-governance initiatives in the ministry’s budget division by the Sector Working Team.

Also, an additional N100m has been set aside for monitoring and evaluating capital projects, raising concerns about duplication of expenses.

Speaking earlier on the implementation of the Lagos rail project, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu championed the Green Line project as transformative for the state’s transportation landscape.

He admitted that MOFI would provide financing and operational support in collaboration with China Harbour Engineering Company.

He said, “The Green Line is a 68km rail line designed to run from the Lekki Free Zone to Marina, connecting with the Blue Line at Marina. This new line will transform our transport landscape, linking key areas like Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah, and more.

“This rail line is projected to carry over 500,000 passengers daily at launch, rising to over a million as demand grows. With the Ministry of Finance Incorporated and CHEC leading the design, financing, and operation, the Green Line will redefine public transport in Lagos.”

Sanwo-Olu further emphasized the economic and social impact of the rail project, noting that, “The impact of these rail lines goes beyond transportation—they are catalysts for economic growth, connecting communities, reducing travel times, and enhancing the quality of life for millions. We are building a city that works.”

While the governor celebrated the success of the Blue Line, which has served 2 million passengers in its first year, critics argue that prioritizing Lagos projects at the expense of national transportation needs undermines equitable development.