About six persons have been confirmed dead while 80 sustained various degrees of injuries at the early morning Thursday accident which involved a moving train operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, ramming into a Lagos State Government staff bus at Shogunle and Ikeja, area of the state.

The ill-fated bus with Lagos registration number; 04A- 48LA, number 33, was heading to Alausa, Ikeja from Isolo, and in the processing of beating other motorists at the PWD rail crossing, Shogunle, collided with an oncoming train. It was carrying several passengers, majorly civil servants, and some dependants.

Two persons died on the spot while four others died in the hospital. There were 42 moderately-injured persons, 29 serious injuries and eight mild injuries. 25 persons have been treated and transferred to Gbagada General Hospital, Agege General Hospital and trauma centre at toll gate.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government, FG, has directed the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) experts to commence immediate investigation into the accident.

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, in a swift reaction on-behalf of FG, who directed NSIB experts to commence immediate investigation, described the accident as “unfortunate.” He assured the public of the capacity of the NSIB to unravel the immediate and remote cause(s) of the accident with the aim to proffer ways of preventing future occurrence.

The government called for the cooperation of members of the public as investigation by the NSIB team commenced.

FG, commiserated with the state government and residents, especially, those who have lost their loved ones, on the sad event, and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured in the accident.

Also, Lagos State Governor, Babjide Sanwo-Olu, in swift response, xpressed deep shock and sorrow over the unfortunate incident.

Sanwo-Olu, later, declared a three day mourning and directed flags to fly at half-mast and civil servants work half day tomorrow (Friday).

Speaking at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, when he visited to assess the situation and commiserated with victims, also cancelled all public engagements and campaigns.

Sanwo-Olu said: ” According to Sanwo-Olu; “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.

“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.”

“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, and wanted to drag over the rail.

“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 an 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.”

Sanwo-Olu, commended residents who assisted the first responders in the search and rescue operation, saying the true spirit of Lagos must be sustained at all times.

He commended the first responders, LASUTH and LASUCOM staffs and security agencies for their prompt response.

“A big thank you to well meaning Lagosians who immediately joined in rescue efforts. Our first responders and emergency services are on ground and we will share more information shortly,” he said.

Sanmwo-Olu hails Jandor, Rhodes-Vivoour for visiting victims

The governor, also commended candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Jide Adeniran and Labour Party, LP, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour for visiting and commiserating with the families, saying ‘it is important to thank two of my other competitors – Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and Mr Olajide Adeniran, who I learnt were here earlier, for their show of commitment beyond politics. I thank them for coming here.”

Sanwo-Olu, who said the state has the capacity to tackle emergencies, revealed that investigation has started and regular updates would be given as necessary.

He also urged people to voluntarily donate blood to help LASUTH restock it’s blood bank.

According to Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyitolu, “on arrival of the agency’s response team at the scene of incident, investigation gathered revealed that the immediate cause of the incident was due to reckless driving from part of the BRT bus driver while trying to beat the train road signal before the moving train rammed into the BRT bus.

“Unfortunately, three adults (two females one male) confirmed dead and 84 people seriously injured.

“The injured victims have been administered first aid treatment by the agency’s medical team (paramedics) and LASAMBUS officials and were well stabilized before being transported to Ikeja General Hospital and trauma center for further treatment.

“The agency pre hospital care unit, LASAMBUS officials, Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA, Lagos Neighbourhood Security Corps, LNSC, and Nigerian Army provided security at the scene of incident.”

The incident which occurred at about 7.45 am, was later cleared at about 11 am, when the ill-fated bus was removed from the tracks and the train recovered by the LASEMA crane.

Minister for Transportation mourns

Reacting to the incident, Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, expressed condolence to the victims and bereaved families.

“We are saddened by the news of the accident which occurred this morning involving a train operated by the NRC, and a Lagos State staff bus, conveying workers to duty early hours of today in Shogunle, Lagos.

“We pray for eternal repose for those who have lost their lives and we pray the Almighty God grant them eternal rest and we pray for speedy recovery to the injured.

“We commiserate with the families of the victims and particularly the Governor and people of Lagos state. Please accept our deepest concerns and condolences.

“We also appreciate the cooperation we got from the Lagos State Government, NEMA and concerned Nigerians who swung into action after the ill-fated incident to ensure the site was cleared and the injured got immediate treatment.”

Jandor, Rhodes-Vivour visit scene

The Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos, Dr. Olajide Adediran, popular called Jandor and his Labour Party counterpart, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, have commiserated with the victims and families of those who lost their loved ones.

Jandor, however, tasked the state government on the need to provide barriers at roads leading to rail lines to prevent accidents.

The Governorship candidate, who after visiting the scene, was later denied entry into the Ikeja General Hospital to see the victims,

He described the crash as sad, and unbecoming of a cosmopolitan state like Lagos.

“The incident is so sad. I think it’s about time we began to have barriers that would stop vehicles when trains are coming.

“This is a kind of responsibility for the government. We cannot continue like this, there should be a barrier on the rail line, when trains are coming.

“I’m sure we are going to get it right, I will be going to the hospital to see the victims so that we know how to provide succuor to them.

“This is getting too much, we saw the fire incident that occurred in a market in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government yesterday and I would be going there too to see the level of damage.

“We will get it right as a government. We should prevent vehicles from passing, when trains are coming,” he said.

MD NRC speaks

The Managing Director, NRC, Fidet Okhiria, recounted that,: “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, then the train crushed the bus; that is what we gathered. The train was coming from Ijoko to Iddo.”

Okhiria urged drivers in Lagos to exercise caution when crossing railway tracks to prevent accidents. He emphasized the importance of drivers always being mindful of the level crossing and not disregarding the designated stopping point, as doing so can be dangerous.

According to Taofiq Adebayo, Director of the Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the bus involved in the accident was en route to Ikeja from the Isolo area of the state when the incident occurred at PWD, Ikeja.