In a move to ease the anticipated surge of commuters to the annual concert festival, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has extended the operating hours of its rail services ahead of The Experience Lagos 2025. The publicly announced change applies to the urban rail services on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line and coincides with the weekend’s expected rise in travel demand. The decision follows a statement by LAMATA’s Head of Corporate Communication, cited to accommodate the thousands of worshippers and music-lovers anticipated to attend the mega gospel concert.
The revised schedule brings notable changes for Friday, December 5. On that day, the Blue Line will operate well past its usual closing time — staying in service until 11:43 pm, unlike the regular 9:30 pm shutdown. This will provide additional transport support following the event’s concluding times, when large numbers of attendees are likely to head back home.
Then on Saturday, December 6, operations will restart early at 4:00 am, continuing until 9:30 pm to support both early-morning arrivals to Lagos Island and post-event return trips. Though there will be no changes to the weekend schedule of the LRMT Red Line, the Red Line will continue with its regular Friday operations — from 6:00 am to 10:00 am, and then during the evening peak from 5:20 pm to 8:40 pm, and will remain off-service on Saturday.
Regular scheduling will resume on Sunday, December 7, 2025. LAMATA also reminded commuters that travel continues to require the use of Cowry Cards for station access. The authority urged the public to follow guidance from station officials and collaborate to ensure a smooth, orderly, and safe travel experience during the festival weekend.
Table of Contents
Why the extension matters
The Experience Lagos is widely regarded as Africa’s largest gospel concert. Since its inception in 2006 by Pastor Paul Adefarasin, founder of House on the Rock Church, the event has grown massively — with attendance from tens of thousands of worshippers, including visitors from across Lagos and beyond. Held typically on the first Friday of December, the event draws huge crowds to its venue at Tafawa Balewa Square on Lagos Island.
Historically, such events lead to massive traffic congestion, long waits, and transport chaos — especially in the evenings when concertgoers leave en masse. By lengthening rail services into late hours on Friday and restarting early on Saturday, LAMATA seeks to offer a reliable alternative to road transport. This mitigates the risk of gridlock while giving concertgoers an efficient, safe, and predictable way home.
For many Lagos residents, the LRMT, especially the Blue and Red Lines, has become a welcome alternative to heavy traffic and unpredictable road commutes. In recent months, LAMATA has expanded services and added more train sets to improve capacity. Earlier in 2025, the agency added six new trains to serve both the Blue and Red Lines, signalling a broader push to strengthen Lagos’ urban rail infrastructure.
With the Blue Line now handling more daily trips and offering faster commutes between key hubs such as Marina and Mile 2, the system has steadily gained popularity among commuters.
What commuters should know ahead of The Experience 2025
- Friday, December 5, the Blue Line will operate until 11:43 pm.
- Saturday, December 6, early start at 4:00 am on the Blue Line, with normal closure at 9:30 pm.
- Red Line maintains its regular Friday schedule, will not operate on Saturday.
- Normal timetable resumes on Sunday, December 7.
Commuters are urged to have their Cowry Cards ready for station access, to obey posted instructions at stations, and to respect safety and crowd-management protocols.
For residents, worshippers and music fans heading to Lagos Island for The Experience 2025, this extended rail timetable offers a much-needed alternative to negotiating traffic jams, especially after late-night shows. As millions converge on Lagos for what remains a cultural and religious highlight, having dependable, accessible public transport may make all the difference between a stressful journey home and a smooth ride.
Join Our Social Media Channels:
WhatsApp: NaijaEyes
Facebook: NaijaEyes
Twitter: NaijaEyes
Instagram: NaijaEyes
TikTok: NaijaEyes
