Bamanga orders investigation into train accident in Lagos

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and current chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has ordered an immediate investigation into the circumstances leading to the crash of one of the Locomotive Engine Heads of the Nigerian Railway Corporation at the Lagos Terminus of the organization on Sunday.

The incident which occurred at the Lagos Terminus of the organization at mid-night recorded one casualty as the assistant Engine Driver was trapped dead in the accident while the main driver is receiving treatment in one of hospitals in Lagos.

The corporation said none of the passengers was hurt in the accident while the coaches have been pulled away from the train’s Engine Head.

Bamanga, who visited the site alongside the task force set-up by the organization said urgent steps should be taken to clear the environment and remove the body of the engine driver said to be trapped in the engine.

He expressed shocked at the damage done to the terminus and the impact of the accident on the entire body of the Engine and express grief at the loss of the life of the engine driver and the damage done to the organization generally by the accident.

Also, a statement signed by Prince Oliver Okpala, Special Assistant on Media to Alhaji Tukur said he ordered an immediate investigation into the incident with a view to unraveling the circumstances that led to the accident and preventive measures to be taken in future to forestall the occurrence of such an accident.

Okpala told reporters that a board meeting, presided over by the Chairman, will take place in Lagos where the issue of safety and accident free operations is expected to be one of the major agenda.