The Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA) yesterday called for “conscientious efforts in safeguarding our rails, and the lives of Nigerians.”
The institute which decried the high rate of rail accidents globally spoke against the backdrop of last week’s accident of the Abuja-Kaduna Train which crushed a woman driving on the rail line along Chikapere in Kubwa, an Abuja suburb.
The deceased woman, Selimota Idowu, was a staff of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
CIOTA President, Prince Segun Obayendo described the accident as “tragic but avoidable,” adding however that “this incident of crashes between rail and vehicles is not peculiar to our country, as advanced countries also have their share.”
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The institute in a statement said, “However, in recent years, developed nations have been able to reduce rail accidents to the barest minimum by employing standards and regulations which include advanced technologies to improve rail management and safety.
“Technologies have been introduced through the use of Radar and Video Imaging, which have been impactful.
“Between 2014 and 2016, the National Bureau of Statistics attributed 1093 accidents to Rail transportation.
“While another report showed 1029 rail accidents occurred between 2017 and 2018, and this has increased over the years.
“A high rate of rail accidents can be prevented by making conscientious efforts in safeguarding our rails, and the lives of Nigerians.
“All necessary safety measures must be put in place at level crossings to reduce deaths, also, motorists should exercise patience by waiting for the train to pass so that they can continue with their movement, while surveillance on our rails must be increased to check vandals.”
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