Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday disclosed that the Federal and Lagos State Governments had resolved to create alternative entry and exit driveways for the Nigerian Army Shopping Arena in Oshodi, for the safety of commuters and motorists along the rail corridors.
Gov. Sanwo-Olu stated this while visiting the scene of a train accident in Osohodi for on-the-spot assessment in company of the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.
The train accident reportedly claimed the lives of a father and his son, whose vehicle got stuck on the rail track as they were driving into the shopping arena.
However, six persons in a passenger bus that was involved in the accident luckily escaped, but with various degrees of injuries as the train dragged the bus about 800 meters away from the point of collision.
Sympathising with families of the victims, Sanwo-Olu noted that the accident was regrettable as he disclosed that both tiers of government had agreed on closing the gates to the shopping complex at the railway due to safety concerns.
He said: “This incident is regrettable because it happened on the day all stakeholders reached a consensus to close down the gates into the shopping arena. And this is part of the concerns we have been raising about commuters’ safety on this axis. We need to act fast. This fatal accident should strengthen our resolve to do the needful and prevent a repeat of the sad incident in the future.
“It is also a clarion call on our people to be safety conscious whenever they need to drive across the rail tracks. If there is a slow movement of vehicles at any railway bypass, then there is a need to keep a safe distance from the rail tracks. We have been rolling out advocacy on this and we will intensify efforts on it. Safety of the people is paramount and we will do all required to ensure we put a stop to this kind of accident.”
Channels TV reported that prior to the visit by the Governor and the Minister, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) had evacuated the mangled vehicles from the rail track.
Those injured had been treated and discharged by medical personnel deployed to the site of the accident.
