The House of Representatives on Tuesday unveiled plans to investigate the incessant accident involving train and vehicles across the country, with the view to proffer lasting solution to the life threatening incident.
The resolution was passed following the adoption of a motion co-sponsored by Akinwunmi Olaitan and Jimoh Olajide.
In his lead debate, Olaitan expressed regrets over the incidence which occurred on the 16th November, 2017 when a train derailed at Fagba area of Ifako-Ijaye Federal Constituency of Lagos State and rammed into a trailer on the railway line, causing multiple crashes among trucks and other vehicles which led to the death of seven persons.
He noted that “when a train derails leading to an accident, a dangerous situation usually occurs owing to the size, weight and speed of the railroad cars which makes it difficult to take any action to mitigate the damage as the safety features in vehicles cannot stand up to the force of a moving train.
“The House further notes that most accidents involving trains and vehicles are caused by failure of vehicle drivers to abide by highway codes and absence of railway level crossing barriers given that most crossing locations are among the most eventful points on the transportation network.
“The House is aware that as a result of the different braking systems of a train, the right of way is granted to the train because its braking distance (depending on its weight and speed) is several hundred times longer than that of a vehicle.
“The House is also aware that usually, some kind of alarm system arrangements are made to keep the road traffic flowing during the safe periods and suitable bell system is provided for vehicles and pedestrians in order to prevent possible accidents,” Olaitan urged.
In the bid to curb future occurrence, he harped on the need for “provision of modern railway level crossing barriers, bells, railway/road signs, signals and lights and realizing the need for collaboration with highway authorities to carry out the necessary works to increase the visibility of the level crossings in order to reduce accidents at those crossings.”
In his contribution, Rotimi Agunsoye emphasized the need for that government to perform its constitutional role of securing the lives and properties of its citizens, just as he described the “disregard for human lives in Nigeria is disheartening.”
In his intervention, Femi Gbajabiamila, House Leader who observed that the problem is a national one, urged the House to extend the scope of the investigation beyond Lagos, noting that the ugly incident has nationwide coverage and should be looked at seriously, or else there will be many more of such occurrences.
To this end, the House mandated the Committees on Police Affairs, Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values and Land Transport to interface with the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) on how to provide railway level crossing barriers, highway codes and alarm system arrangements at all railway level crossings across the federation to curb incessant deaths at railway crossings.
Also at plenary, the House passed the bill for an Act to provide for the ‘establishment of the National Research and Innovation Council, National Research and Innovation Foundation and for matters related thereto’.
In his lead debate, Femi Gbajabiamila, House Leader explained that the bill which was passed from the Senate for concurrence, was debated and worked on by the Committee and the consideration was to harmonize the position of the House with that of the Senate.
According to him, the bill was geared towards the economical and technological development of Nigeria.
