The House of Representatives yesterday resolved to investigate rail accidents across the country especially deaths at railway crossing.

This followed the passage of a motion jointly sponsored by Hon. Akinwunmi Olaitan and Hon. Jimoh Olajide, to investigate the Lagos incident and ascertain what happened in order to prevent a future occurrence and as well sanction those culpable.

The House further directed the Nigeria Railway Corporation,(NRC), to as a matter of urgency provide Rail level crossing barriers, highway codes and alarm systems at all rail level crossings nationwide to curb incessant deaths at railway intersections.

 

Leading debate on the motion, Olaitan expressed dismay at the November 16, 2017 rail accident which occurred at Fagba area of Ifako Ijaye federal Constituency of Lagos state.

The lawmaker expressed concern at the level of  negligence by motorists and rail corporation  such that a train could derail , ram into a trailer on the rail line causing multiple crashes among vehicles, trucks and resulting to the death of seven persons without safety signs or warning

According to him, it was unacceptable that the rail lines had turned into market places where all  manner of trade was ongoing  as well as terminals for commercial transporters , noting that the anomaly  must cease while the appropriate   personnel, like it is for the federal road safety commission in case of the nation’ s roads  be introduced to maintain law and order on the lines across the country.

 

Olaitan further frowned at the  negligent attitude of drivers whom he  blamed for such accidents.

 

He attributed the bad situation to failure of both vehicle drivers to abide by highway codes and the railway authorities to provide level crossing barriers, even when they are aware that most crossing locations are among the most eventful points on the transportation network.

 

Olaitan further lamented the enormity of train accident, given the size of the machine and the consequences and called for provision of modern railway crossing barriers, bells, railway / roads signs and signals as well as lights .

He called for collaboration among the agencies of government to carry out necessary works to increase visibility at the level crossing, all prayers which were approved in the motion titled, “need to curb incessant deaths at railway crossings”

The motion was unanimously adopted at the plenary.

 

The committees on police affairs, information, national orientation, ethics and values as well as land transportation were mandated to carry out the assignment.