Musbau Babatunde
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has been directed to commence immediate investigation into the remote cause of the train and Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) accident, which occurred on Thursday morning at the Ikeja area of Lagos State.
The bureau said that it has dispatched its investigators to the site for evidence gathering, which would aid its investigation.
Dr. James Odaudu, Special Assistant to Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation on Public Affairs,who conveyed this in a statement,said his boss directed the NSIB experts to ensure adequate investigation into the accident.
Odaudu quoted Sirika as describing the accident as unfortunate, but assured the public of the capacity of the NSIB to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the accident and proffer ways of preventing recurrence in the future.
He said that the minister solicited the cooperation of members of the public as investigation by the NSIB team commences.
He added: “He commiserates with the government and people of Lagos state, especially those who have lost their loved ones, on the sad event, and prays for the quick recovery of those injured in the accident.
“According to reports, two persons were confirmed killed while many sustained various degrees of injuries when a moving train rammed into a BRT bus at the PWD bus stop in the Ikeja area of Lagos state on Thursday morning.”
Besides,Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, the General Manager, Public Affairs, NSIB,disclosed that the bureau was already mobilising its investigators to the site of the accident.
“Our investigators have been notified and we are mobilising them to the site of the accident,” he said.
He explained that during evidence gathering at the accident site, its investigators would get the necessary evidences to continue with the analysis.
No fewer than three lives were lost while many of the BRT bus sustained various degrees of injuries when the train and BRT bus collided at Ikeja on Thursday.