Train-BRT Collision: Sanwo-Olu Declares Three Days Mourning, as Buhari, Tinubu, Atiku Condole Families of Victims
Train, BRT Clash
*NSIB Investigates accident
By Our Reporter
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday declared three days mourning following the train-BRT accident that claimed six lives at Oshodi, Lagos.
This was as President Muhammadu Buhari, the president-elect, Bola Tinubu; candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar condoled the families of victims that lost their lives and others hospitalized as a result of the accident.
Sanwo-Olu visited the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to commiserate with victims.
He said: “This is a very sober time for us as a government and while we acknowledge God as the giver of life, the one who determines every man’s destiny, it saddens when we have incidents like this.
“The fatal accident happened at the rail crossing around PWD in the Shogunle area. I believe they were coming from the express and needed a right turn. It is not yet clear what happened, but it seems like a wrong judgement by the driver.
‘I also learnt he has turned himself to the police and so investigations will determine what actually went wrong. We would also reach out to the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) to give their own account of what transpired so we can have full information.
“We haven’t informed any family members yet because these are civil servants that were going to work so we cannot begin to disclose names until when families have been contacted. Of the number of injured persons, 25 were treated very quickly and transferred to the Gbagada General Hospital, Agege General Hospital and the trauma centre at toll gate so this place can be decongested and proper profiling of injuries can be done.
“There will be half day of work tomorrow (today) so we can jointly mourn our staff, our loved ones, and the dead can be buried. Flags will also fly at half mast for the next three days, and we are also declaring a three-day state mourning for the deceased.”
Reacting to the incident, President Buhari in a statement issued by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the incident was distressing and sad,
Buhari prayed for the souls of the deceased and wished others in hospital quick recovery from the injuries they sustained.
Tinubu in a statement signed by Mr. Tunde Rahman while commiserating with the victims and their families said that incident was tragic.
According to Tinubu, “I offer my sincere condolences to the victims and families affected by the gory incident involving a train and a bus in the Ikeja area of Lagos State earlier today.
“I am praying for all, including those who died and those who sustained injuries in the tragic and unfortunate incident.
“My thoughts are with them and with the Lagos State Government, even as I continue to follow the emergency response efforts closely and offer support, where necessary, to ensure that survivors and others involved receive the best care.”
Atiku on his part described the incident as very unfortunate.
In a statement he signed personally, Atiku said, “The unfortunate crash of a train and a BRT bus in Lagos this morning is sad news not only to Lagosians but to all of us Nigerians.
“My condolences to the families and friends of the victims and the good people and government of Lagos.
“The powers of states as federating units in Nigeria in the area of transportation must be reinforced with enabling laws and enhanced by the states themselves with knowledge and the requisite expertise in the same sector.
“I urge the relevant authorities to swiftly investigate the cause of the accident and take appropriate measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may God grant their families the fortitude to bear the loss.
The accident occurred at Shogunle when BRT was crossing the rail .
Meanwhile in a statement, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) said it has commenced investigation into the accident.
The statement signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs, NSIB, Tunji Oketunbi said: “This accident investigation marks the first train accident investigation embarked upon by the Bureau since its establishment under the NSIB Act 2022”.
Oketunbi added: “The NSIB, hereby, solicit information from the general public in form of pictures, video or recording evidence to help assist in conducting a comprehensive investigation. The Bureau can be reached through info@aib.gov.ng and aib Nigeria on its social media platforms. The Bureau can also be reached on its emergency line +234-807-709-0909.
“The NSIB is a multimodal investigation agency charged with the mandate to investigate transportation accidents and serious incidents in Nigeria with the aim of identifying the probable causes and proffer safety recommendations that can prevent reoccurrence”.
The Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Mr. Fidet Okhiria, said many cars stopped when they got to the level crossing while the Lagos State Staff Bus driver continued moving, adding that this led to the accident.
He added, ”Maybe the driver thought he could pass before the train got nearer to him. He could not pass, then the train crushed the bus; that is what we gathered”.
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