By; MATTHEW UKACHUNWA, Lagos
The management of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has advised the general public to observe caution signs along railway corridors in order to avoid being hit by train.
NRC gave the advice in reaction to an accident which occurred on Thursday, when a bus carrying passengers collided with a Mass Transit Passenger Train (MTT) coming from Ijoko, Ogun State to Iddo Railway Station in Lagos on Thursday. The accident happened at Shogunle Level Crossing, Ikeja, Lagos State.
“The Corporation is and will continue to appeal to all and sundry to please ensure restraint and strictly observe caution signs and instructions from officials when approaching railway level crossing and completely stop their vehicles as directed to do so by the level crossing keeper and officials to ensure seamless movement of trains and safe crossing of motorists as well as pedestrians,” the corporation stated in a news release issued on Thursday by its Deputy Director, Public Relations, Mr. Yakub Mahmood.
NRC sympathized with families of the victims of the accident.
The corporation pointed out that it has put in place level crossing control and management procedures necessary for preventing accidents by deploying mechanism and level crossing staff that work at level crossings across the country to prevent accidents.
“We must also be aware that Railway has the right of way in any city that has the benefit of train services, hence Railway track must be kept free from walking and trading at all times,” Mahmood said in the Press release titled, “Vehicle Collides With Train.”
He explained that all level crossings are manned 24 hours and that the management of NRC will not relent in its corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of advising drivers and pedestrians to always comply strictly to instructions given by the railway staff at level crossings.
“Meanwhile, we will continue to collaborate with Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), State traffic management agencies such as Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (,LASMA), etc to ensure the prevention of incidents of vehicles colliding with moving trains,” NRC stressed.
