Remi Osinbajo, the driver of the BRT (state staff) bus that collided with a train, killing six people, has apologized to the victims’ families.
A train collided with a Lagos state staff bus carrying workers on March 9, 2023 in the Shogunle area of Oshodi, Lagos.
According to witnesses at the scene, the bus was attempting to cross the rail track when an oncoming train rammed into it and dragged it from Shogunle to Ikeja’s PWD area.
Osinbajo blamed the incident on mechanical problems with the bus.
“It was not my fault. How could I have ignored warning signs? The bus had a mechanical fault,” he was quoted to have said.
“It is a pity this has happened. I beg everyone affected to please forgive me in the name of God.”
Investigation
Meanwhile, the driver was reportedly handed over to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigations (SCIID) department on Friday.
According to Moyosore Onigbanjo, the Lagos attorney-general and commissioner for justice, the driver is being investigated by the railway police command headquarters.
“The commissioner of police, the railway police command has taken over the investigation of the accident,” the statement reads.
“The bus involved in the collision had been retrieved and sent for a thorough examination at the Lagos state vehicle inspection service office and the ministry of justice (MOJ).”
Recklessness
Fidet Okhiria, the managing director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said that the bus driver is to blame for the accident.
Okhiria said the driver attempted to cross the rail tracks and beat the train.
He urged Lagos motorists to exercise caution when driving through the level crossing.
“According to the information I gathered at the scene of the incident, they said many cars stopped when they got to the level crossing while the Lagos State Staff Bus driver continued moving, which I don’t know why,” the NRC boss said.
“Maybe the driver thought he could pass before the train got nearer to him. He could not pass, and then the train crushed the bus; that is what we gathered.
“The train was coming from Ijoko to Iddo.”
