• Accident most regrettable says Tinubu, warns okada riders from encroaching on BRT lane
By Adeyinka Aderibigbe
Lagos’ operator BRT franchise operator Primero Transport Services, confirmed a fatal accident involving one of its vehicles and a commercial Okada operator at Ile -Epo, inward Abule Egba, in the mainland axis of the state.
Primero’s Corporate Affairs Manager Mr Mutiu Yekeen said confirmed the incident said the accident, occurred around 4am yesterday.
According to him, “at about 4 am, a bus heading to Abule-Egba from Oshodi to transport early morning commuters was involved in an accident that claimed the lives of two victims on the spot.
“According to the bus driver, a commercial motorcyclist, carrying two passengers, appeared on the BRT lane, from nowhere. The driver who could not avoid the motorcycle which had no headlamp and was facing the oncoming bus knocked down the victims.
“He further stated that the driver of the BRT bus quickly ran to Oke-Odo police station to report the incident.
When the Lagos State Emergency team arrived at the scene, two people were discovered to have died on the spot.
The third person has been taken to the hospital by the emergency team.
The officers at Oke-Odo Police have the driver, the BRT bus and the motorcycle (Okada) in their custody.
Meanwhile, Primero Transport Services Managing Director Mr Fola Tinubu have expressed sadness at the development.
Conveying the Management’s regrets to the families of the victim, Tinubu said the accident was most regrettable.
He said: “The life of every Lagosian is precious to Primero. While we regret the accident that led to the loss of lives, the management appealed to all commercial motorcyclists, private cars and ‘danfo’ drivers to stop encroaching on the BRT corridors to avoid future accidents.
“There are so many challenges we are facing on BRT corridors, one of the biggest challenges is motorcycle riders encroaching into BRT lanes.
We called on Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, to assist in deploying their officers to checkmate the activities drivers that invaded the BRT corridors”.
The victims have been taken away by the Lagos State Emergency team.
The matter is still under investigation as the DTO in charge of the case asked the BRT management to give police 48 hours for the families of the victim to appear.