Nigerian Railway Corporation warns traders of imminent dangers of encroaching on rail tracks

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Sunday warned members of the public and traders in particular, against encroaching on rail tracks while doing their businesses to avert accidents.

NRC was reacting to the death of three persons after a train hit a commercial bus in the Pen Cinema, Agege area of Lagos on Friday.

Below are some danger warnings itemized by NRC:

Doing business on railway tracks:

Mr Jerry Oche, NRC Lagos District Manager, said it was regrettable that people had refused to heed the corporation’s warnings on the dangers of trading or driving carelessly on rail tracks.

“The railway tracks are not walkways nor parking lots, or market space for trading.

“People have no business being on the tracks unless they are railway staff on the track for maintenance,’’ Oche said.

Wearing earpiece on rail tracks:

NRC has warned the general public that people should desist from wearing earpiece on rail tracks.

Mr Jerry Oche, NRC Lagos District Manager, said that “some people have been killed on the tracks because they put on their earpiece and could not hear the train honk.

“It is dangerous for anyone to walk on the train tracks with an earpiece.

“Despite our warnings, people still walk with earpiece, trading on rail tracks knowing very well that trains have the right of way on the tracks,’’ the district manager said.

Driving carelessly on rail tracks:

The Pen Cinema accident, according to an eye witness occurred when the bus driver was trying to make a U-turn on the rail line.

“We warned the driver not to make the U-turn at that particular point when a train was approaching, but he refused.

“So, it was in the process of making the turn that the train crushed the bus and people hanging on the train fell off and three died instantly while others sustained various injuries,” an eye witness stated.