Collision: NRC sympathises with victims, families, advises motorists
The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) on Thursday sympathised with victims and families affected in the rail track accident in Lagos early in the day.
This is contained in a statement by NRC’s Deputy Director, Public Relations, Mr Yakub Mahmood, in Lagos on Thursday.
He also reiterated the need for motorists and pedestrians to strictly observe caution signs and instruction when approaching railway level crossings.
This, according to the corporation, is to prevent recurrence of accidents like that of Thursday morning..
Mahmood said NRC would not relent in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of advising drivers and pedestrians to always comply with instructions given by the railway staff at level crossings.
A Lagos State bus conveying government workers was on Thursday involved in a collision with a Mass Transit passenger train (MTT) of the NRC.
The train was coming from Ijoko, Ogun State to Iddo Railway Station, when the collision occurred at Shogunle Level Crossing, Ikeja.
.Two persons died on the spot, while the death toll increased to six in the hospital.as of Thursday evening.
“The general public may wish to note that NRC has always put in place level crossing control and management procedures necessary for preventing accidents.
” This is by deploying mechanisms and Level Crossing Staff that work at the level crossing across the country to prevent accident
“The corporation is and will continue to appeal to all and sundry to ensure restraint and strictly observe caution signs and instruction from officials when approaching railway level crossing.
” They will completely STOP their vehicles when directed to do so by the Level Crossing Keeper and officials to ensure seamless movement of trains and safe crossing of motorists as well as pedestrians,” Mahmood said.
He restated the need for railway tracks to be kept free of walking and trading at all times.
He said NRC would continue to collaborate with Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), to ensure prevention of incidents of vehicles colliding with moving train.
NAN reports that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave a breakdown of victims when he visited the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital where some of them were being treated. .
The governor said the bus involved was bus number 33, one of the fleet of about 50 staff buses used by workers of the Lagos state government, adding that the driver had handed himself over to the Police.
”There were 85 passengers on board the bus with six deaths, 42 moderate injuries, 29 serious and 8 mild injuries according to the LASUTH classification scale,” he said.
The governor said Lagos was in a state of mourning and for the next three days, Ihe was suspending all campaign activities.
”All flags will be flown at half mast and tomorrow all civil servants will work till 12 noon before returning home to be with their loved ones during this trying time.
”It is still a critical period for some of the patients, as we continue to call for blood donations across different state government medical facilities.
”This is a call for our humanity to rise above all. I also thank LASEMA, the security agencies, staff and students of LASUTH,” he said.
