Transport, Aviation Ministers Order Investigations
Following directives of the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced investigation into an accident involving a train with registration number 2215 and a Lagos State BRT staff bus with registration number 04A-48LA, which occurred on March 9, 2023 at PWD, Shogunle on Agege Motor Road, Ikeja, Lagos State.
Tunji Oketunbi, the General Manager, Public Affairs of NSIB, who made this known in a statement, said eye witness reported that the moving train rammed into the BRT bus, which crossed the train tracks despite train traffic signal, and warning from the train traffic controller.
“First responders at the accident site have evacuated the bus and the train.
“This accident investigation marks the first train accident investigation embarked upon by the Bureau since its establishment under the NSIB Act 2022.
“The NSIB, hereby, solicit information from the general public in form of pictures, video or recording evidences 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” noted the NSIB spokesman.
Recall that Senator Sirika had promptly directed the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau experts to commence Immediate investigation into the accident, describing the accident as unfortunate.
According to a statement by James Odaudu, the Special Assistant to the Minister of Aviation (Public Affairs), Sirika assures the public of the capacity of the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the accident and proffer ways of preventing such in the future.
The Aviation Minister solicited the cooperation of members of the public as investigation by the NSIB team commences.
He commiserated with the government and people of Lagos state, especially those who have lost their loved ones, on the sad event, and prays for the quick recovery of those injured in the accident.
According to reports, two persons were confirmed killed while many sustained various degrees of injuries when a moving train rammed into a BRT bus at the PWD bus stop in the Ikeja area of Lagos state on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo expressed deep sadness over the train accident which occurred in the early hours of Thursday.
Henshaw Ogubike, the Director (Press and Public Relations) in Transportation Ministry, noted that the Minister has ordered an immediate and full investigation into the unfortunate incident.
The accident involved a Nigerian Railway Corporation passenger train and a Lagos State Government staff bus that was conveying workers to their offices in the Shogunle area of Lagos State.
The Minister sympathised with the victims of the unfortunate incident and prayed for the repose of the souls of those that died and quick recovery for the ones injured.
“We are saddened by the news of the accident which occurred this morning involving a train operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation and a Lagos State staff bus, conveying workers to their offices in the early hours of today in Shogunle, Lagos.”
“We pray for those who have lost their lives that the Almighty God should grant them eternal rest and we pray for a speedy recovery to the injured”, he said.
The Minister also commiserated with the families of the victims as well as the Government and people of Lagos state over the incident.
He appreciated the Lagos State Government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and members of the public for their cooperation in helping to clear the site of the incident and ensuring that the injured got immediate treatment.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Railway Police command has effectively taken over the investigation into the incident as a result of the directive of the Honourable Minister of Transportation for a detailed investigation of the incident.
