By Fidelis Ugbomeh
The Management of Nigerian Railway Corporation, (NRC) and Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, (LAMATA) have been enjoined to take proactive action in order to curb frequent accidents involving trains and vehicles/padestrians along the railway lines especially within Lagos and environs.
This call is coming at a time the frequency of train movements and death toll especially within the Lagos to Agbado railway corridor has increased since commencent of operations of commercial train service (Red line) by Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, (LAMATA).
For instance, on March 8, this year there was an accident involving a commercial bus and a passenger train at PWD railway level crossing and another involving a padestrian and an Agbado- Oyingbo bound LAMATA operated passenger train at 8.00pm near power line area of Agbado on March 10, this year.
The power line victim who was making a phone call beside the railway line when the protruding steps of the train knocked him down was rushed to a nearby Hospital but could not survive while the commercial bus involved in the PWD accident was completely damaged.
Director General, CRIMMD Museum Mr. Akume who called for regulation and restriction of track access to vehicles and padestrians at rail/road intersections said that accidents could be averted if heavy speed breakers are constructed and overhead bridges built respectively on roads leading to rail track.
He implored NRC and LAMATA to re-introduce traffic officers at road/rail junctions who will control vehicles with a red flag as warning signal that a train is approaching especially where there are no overhead bridges.
Akume also opined that re-introduction of lowered gates, wooden barricade that rail personnel used to block motor roads 5 minutes before a train crosses.
Mr. Taiwo Olaniyi of Legacy Museum advised NRC management and Lagos state government to stop toying with the lives of people by allowing intrusion into the track.
He averred that the use of pedestrian bridges should be enforced where available and all the rail track within the cities and urban centres should be barricaded completely.
The Lagos state ministry of transportation in a statement noted that after a recent survey conducted, following the commencement of operations on the red line train service, “it has become necessary to implement proactive measures to ensure the safety and security of commuters along the PWD route”.
The state government therefore announced closure of the rail crossing at the PWD axis to vehicular traffic, effective from Thursday, May 1, 2025. and advised motorists to use alternative routes via Ikeja or Airport roads to reach their destinations.
Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos state, Mr Oluwasegun Osiyemi stated that the decision was made to prevent further accidents along the corridor adding that Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA officers will be deployed to the affected areas to manage vehicular movement and reduce inconvenience to road users