THE Federal Government has directed the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau to launch an immediate investigation into the root cause of the collision between a train and a staff bus of the Lagos State Government that occurred in the Ikeja area of the state.
The directive was revealed by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, in a tweet via his handle, @hadisirika.
The minister expressed his condolences to those affected by the tragedy and prayed for a quick recovery for those injured.
Sirika also urged the public to cooperate with NSIB’s investigation team.
He wrote, “My heart goes out to those who lost their lives in today’s train crash and those who got injured as well as the Government and people of Lagos.
“Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau experts have been directed to move quickly. We solicit public cooperation as the investigation commences”.
MEANWHILE, the Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, faulted the bus driver.
Okhiria told NAN in Lagos that: “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.”
He urged Lagos drivers to be more careful when passing through the level crossing, to avoid train accidents.
The managing director, who was concerned about the lives of the Lagos State staff, appealed to motorists to consider the level crossing at all times.
Okhiria said that when motorists get to the level crossing, they should not ignore the point where they should stop.
