GIBB, one of South Africa’s leading multi-disciplinary engineering consulting companies with a substantial presence across the African continent, in partnership Nexant Consulting Ltd have completed the first phase of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) 57 km-long network.

Comprising a sea-crossing bridge, 12 stations and a maintenance depot, the first phase – referred to as the Blue Line project – spans 27 km and is the first rail infrastructure to transverse Okokomaiko, a densely populated region in western Lagos, and the business district of Marina on Lagos Island.

Once fully operational, it is anticipated that the route will transport as many as 250,000 passengers daily.

The second phase – dubbed the Red Line project – consists of six overpasses, eight stations and a maintenance depot, which will run some 30 km between Marina and Agbado and is expected to be completed during the first quarter of this year.

Initiated by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in 2010, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority’s Blue and Red line projects were awarded to GIBB in December 2020 and sees the company fulfilling the role of owner engineer.

This includes undertaking multidisciplinary engineering and design reviews as well as monitoring the project during the construction phase.

Speaking on the project, Andre van der Walt, Technical Executive at GIBB Transportation, says the completion of the Blue Line is GIBB’s first step in assisting the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority in meeting the ever-increasing demands of the state as Nigeria’s commercial and economic focal point and one of the fastest growing global megacities.

“As the most populous city in Nigeria and the second largest in Africa, Lagos is also recognised as one of the fastest growing cities in the world, home to one of the busiest and largest seaports, and a city that boasts the fourth largest GDP in Africa,” explains van der Walt.

Traffic congestion in Lagos is known to be amongst the worst in the world. Sustainable solutions such as the LRMT have proven not only effective in resolving the problem and preparing the city for continued growth in the future, but also go a long way towards increasing employment opportunities in positions associated with the rail system.