NRC reacts to Lagos accident as police arrest BRT driver
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has taken a swipe at the driver of the BRT bus which collided with a moving train in Lagos State.
The rail service corporation accused the driver of recklesss driving.
The Managing Director of the NRC, Fidet Okhiria, made this remark while addressing newsmen in Abuja.
He said drivers refused to stop when he was already at the level crossing and required to stop just like other cars did.
Okhiria, advised in the state to be careful when driving through the level crossing.
He said: “According to the information I gathered at the scene of the incident, they said many cars stopped when they got to the level crossing while the Lagos State Staff Bus driver continued moving, which I don’t know why.
“Maybe the driver thought he could pass before the train got nearer to him. He could not pass, and then the train crushed the bus; that is what we gathered.
“The train was coming from Ijoko to Iddo.”
The Lagos Police Command has apprehended driver of the BRT bus which was involved in a collision with a moving train in the state.
The incident caused the death of some passengers and others sustained various degrees of injuries.
This was revealed by the Governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday, March 9, 2023 at a press briefing at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital in Ikeja, the capital of the state.
Gov. Sanwo-Olu visits victims of Lagos train/BRT bus accident at LASUTH
The Governor visited the civil servants who sustained various degrees of injury in the train/BRT bus accident at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH)
The Governor said : “I am deeply saddened by the news of the accident. The vehicle was conveying staff of the Lagos state government, our staff who serve the state in different capacities,” the governor said.
“Let’s say a prayer for the families and a prayer of mercy and protection for our state. My thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time.”
The victims were receiving medical treatment at various hospitals in the state.
The train collided with BRT bus carrying passengers in Ikeja, Lagos State, leading to the death of many people and injury of several others.
This occurred on Thursday, March 8, 2023 at Adekunle Fajuyi way in Ikeja.
The train which was coming from Agege collided with BRT with state civil servants on board, while it was trying to cross the rail linking Ikeja GRA.
The accident has caused traffic congestion on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway for drivers coming from Oshodi around Shogunle to Ikeja-Along.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has ordered the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to begin investigation into the Lagos train/BRT bus accident.
The minister described the accident as an unfortunate one, promising that the NSIB would get to the root of the incident, and look for how to prevent future reoccurrence.
This was revealed in a statement released by the minister’s Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr James Odaudu.
The minister calls for cooperation of the people as the NSIB team commences an immediate investigation.
He sympathized with the government and residents of Lagos State, especially those whose relations were affected and wished the injured sound recovery.
Those who witnessed the scenario said the driver refused to stop at the level crossing when told.
A person who witnessed the scene, who’s identified as Babs said the keepers of the NRC at the level crossing told the driver not to proceed because of the incoming train but he didn’t obey the directive.
Babs added that the driver of the BRT thought he could cross the rail line before the incoming train reaches it.
