Lagos accident: Master mariners call for measures to check avoidable train-vehicle collision at crossings

The Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) has expressed grief over what it describe as ‘avoidable’ the accident on Thursday in Lagos, involving a train in motion and a Lagos State Staff bus, which resulted in loss of lives and several others seriously injured.

In a condolence message on Friday to the Hon. Minister of Transportation, Mu’Azu Jaji Sambo, and families of those who lost their lives in the accident, President of the NAMM, Captain Tajudeen Alao, called for immediate action of mounting barrier bars at rail line intersections that vehicles use.

“The whole transportation community is in grief and strongly recommend measures that will protect against such occurrence of train and vehicle collision in future.

“Traditionally, all rail line crossings with road or vehicular movements must have notification, warning signals, barrier bars and horn blaring,” the master mariners president said.

He used the opportunity to call for robust education of vehicle drivers, particularly for them to be educated on the dangers of impatience at such crossings.

Capt. Alao commented the government and residents of the area for quick response, rising to the rescue and salvage operation.

It would be recalled that the collision between the passenger train and a Lagos State Staff bus happened in the early  hours of Thursday morning while some staff were being transported in the bus to their offices in the State Government Secretariat in Alausa.