How traders, others risk lives on rail tracks

Monday’s train accident in Lagos, which claimed one life, has further made safety measures on railway corridors more imperative.

From Ijoko in Ogun State to Iddo in Lagos where the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) currently operates the mass transit service,  there are no fewer than 10 stops where trains wait for passengers to alight.

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Some of the stations on the old narrow gauge tracks include Kajola, Opo Suuru, Agbado, Iju, Agege, Sogunle, Mushin, Oshodi, Agege and Itoki, among others.

Trains usually stopped on these stations before the suspension of train service due to Covid-19.

But on resumption of services on Monday, the new rules aimed at aligning with the COVID-19 protocols have stopped trains from waiting at each of these locations as they now operate from Ijoko to Ebute-Metta Junction.

But at each of these locations, it has become a norm for traders, especially, to take over the tracks.

One of such traders is Marcel Maduka, a bag seller who displays his wares on the rail tracks at Agege.

On a visit to this location especially in the evening, one would be astonished with the hundreds of traders displaying their wares on the rail track. Maduka said, “We are all hustling my brother.

Majority of us here cannot afford to rent a shop. So we are all hustling here.”

The situation is not different in Ikeja Along, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba and Tejuosho.

Most times traders would hurriedly remove their wares from the rail tracks on sighting an oncoming train only to return as soon as it passes by.

In Oshodi, it was however observed that the incursion on the tracks was minimized following the erection of barb wires in some parts.

However, Monday’s accident happened around the level crossing at Oshodi.

The two vehicles involved were a bus with registration number GGE 972 GE with six passengers and a Toyota Highlander with number FST 723 FL which was parked on the tracks.

The bus which had six passengers was said to have attempted to cross the tracks before the arrival of the train when he got stuck and subsequently collided with the train.

All the six passengers were however lucky to have escaped with minor injuries as they were treated and discharged on the spot.

The driver of the Toyota Highlander identified as Christopher Ugobidi, a shoe merchant, was said to have left his car on the tracks while waiting for the gate of a shopping mall to open.

He suddenly sighted the train approaching and immediately rushed to rescue his son who was said to be asleep in the car.

The train crushed him while his son was severely injured.

The Director General, state emergency management agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyitolu, said the two vehicles were dragged along before the train stopped.

While the dust raised by the accident is yet to settle as the police are still investigating the matter, the incursion on rail tracks have become a major concern to the federal and state governments.

There have been incursions on the tracks over the years.

Apart from trading on them, some motorists think they are smart enough to beat oncoming trains.

Our correspondent observed around Oshodi and the popular Ikeja Along that several activities in addition to trading are common.

Miscreants also use the rail tracks as their dens.

Even the newly constructed standard gauge double tracks are being encroached and defecated upon, making it difficult to differentiate between old and new tracks.

The two tracks currently run side by side especially within Lagos.

The encroachment was confirmed by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, two days after the incident when he inspected the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail, warning that government would no longer tolerate the encroachment.

He said the federal government in conjunction with the state would begin to arrest and jail people encroaching on the tracks.

According to Amaechi, it takes 800 metres for a train to stop when it is on full speed.

“The vehicle was parked there because the occupants were waiting for people to open the Arena shopping complex.

“So because it takes 800 meters for a train to stop when at full speed, the train driver could not apply brakes when he saw the vehicle parked on the tracks.

“That was why the train rammed into the vehicle, and unfortunately, a life was lost,” Amaechi stated.

One of the measures to prevent recurrence is the closure of the shopping gate at Arena level crossing.

But with the expected increase in train movements in the state ahead of the commencement of commercial activities on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge train which is nearing completion, experts say there is the need to ramp up safety measures around the corridor.

This is what Governor Sanwo-Olu hinted about when he said the federal and state governments would create alternative entry and exit driveways for the shopping arena and other vulnerable points along the corridor.

On the part of the railway authority, it was learnt that there are plans in place to engage more flag men to stop vehicles approaching the level crossing when a train is passing by.

Lagos District Manager of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Engr. Jerry Oche said, “What we have done which we are improving upon is to have our men at all the level crossings so as to control the vehicles from a distance before the train even approaches.”