Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
A 55 year old motorist has miraculously survived a collision with a moving train at the PWD railway crossing in Ikeja, Lagos, after his Honda car was struck and extensively damaged on Friday morning. The driver escaped without any reported injury, according to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, which confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq.
The collision occurred on Friday, October 9, 2026, at the PWD railway line, involving a train travelling inward Agege and a Honda car with registration number EKY 902 JT. According to Taofiq, the impact inflicted extensive and irreparable damage on the vehicle, rendering it virtually a complete write-off. "Notwithstanding the severity of the impact and the considerable destruction sustained by the vehicle, the motorist miraculously escaped without any reported injury, with no casualty recorded at the scene," the statement read. An earlier traffic update issued at 7:20 a.m. reported that onlookers had pushed the car off the tracks while officers managed traffic and emergency responders attended to the incident.
LASTMA operatives and security personnel responded swiftly to the scene, rescuing the driver unhurt and facilitating the immediate removal of the mangled vehicle from the railway track. Their timely and coordinated intervention was instrumental in clearing the obstruction and enabling the train to resume its journey towards Agege. Despite the successful removal of the wrecked automobile from the track, vehicular movement around the PWD axis remained severely impeded, with considerable traffic congestion continuing to undermine the smooth flow of traffic along the affected corridor. The wrecked Honda car was subsequently handed over to security personnel for further investigation into the remote cause of the collision.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, commended the prompt, coordinated and professionally executed response of the authority's operatives and the security personnel involved in the emergency operation. He acknowledged their exemplary vigilance, responsiveness and collaborative disposition in managing the aftermath of an incident with considerable potential for catastrophic consequences. Bakare-Oki emphasised that effective inter-agency collaboration, situational awareness and expeditious emergency intervention remain indispensable to mitigating the consequences of unforeseen transportation incidents, particularly those involving railway operations and adjoining road infrastructure. He further reiterated the imperative of scrupulous adherence to railway safety regulations, urging motorists to exercise exceptional caution when approaching railway crossings and designated train corridors. He cautioned against any attempt to traverse railway tracks when a train is approaching or already in motion, stressing that reckless disregard for railway safety protocols could precipitate devastating and irreversible consequences.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the dangers of the PWD railway crossing, which has been the scene of multiple fatal accidents in recent years. In October 2025, a dispatch rider died after his motorcycle collided with a moving train at the crossing. The crossing was also the scene of a fatal accident on March 9, 2023, when a train collided with a Lagos State Government staff bus, killing six people and injuring dozens. Following that crash, the Lagos State Ministry of Justice released a report alleging that the driver committed a prima facie case of manslaughter and grievous bodily harm. The cause of Friday's collision has not been established, but the latest incident has again highlighted the persistent safety challenges at a crossing where previous train accidents have claimed lives.
The PWD railway crossing is a critical intersection in Lagos, where the Lagos-Ibadan railway corridor intersects with one of the city's busiest roads. The crossing is used by thousands of motorists, pedestrians and commercial vehicles daily, and the interaction between rail traffic and road users has long been identified as a risk. The Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Railway Corporation have made efforts to improve safety at the crossing, including the installation of warning signals and the deployment of traffic management personnel. However, the frequency of incidents suggests that these measures have not been sufficient to prevent collisions, particularly when motorists attempt to cross the tracks while a train is approaching.
The collision comes amid heightened concern over railway safety in Nigeria, following a series of accidents on the country's rail network in 2026. In January, a train derailed in Kaduna State, injuring several passengers. In April, a passenger train collided with a truck at a level crossing in Ogun State, disrupting services on the Lagos-Ibadan corridor. The Nigerian Railway Corporation has consistently urged motorists and pedestrians to exercise caution at level crossings, but enforcement of safety regulations remains a challenge, particularly in urban areas where rail lines intersect with busy roads.
The political context of the incident is significant. The 2027 general elections are less than four months away, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, and the governorship and state assembly elections for February 6. Transportation and public safety have emerged as key issues in the campaign, and the Lagos State Government has invested in traffic management and emergency response infrastructure. The prompt response of LASTMA and security personnel at the PWD crossing reflects the state's stated commitment to protecting lives and property, but the recurrence of accidents at the same location raises questions about whether the underlying safety challenges have been adequately addressed.
For the 55 year old motorist, Friday's incident is a narrow escape that he will likely remember for the rest of his life. For his family, it is a moment of profound relief. For Lagos residents who use the PWD crossing daily, it is another reminder that the intersection remains dangerous despite repeated warnings and previous tragedies. LASTMA has appealed to all motorists and other road users to demonstrate heightened vigilance, sound judgement and uncompromising compliance with established traffic and railway safety regulations. The authority maintains that the preservation of human life must remain paramount in all road-use decisions, as preventable collisions can be averted through responsible conduct, anticipatory caution and strict observance of safety instructions. The investigation into the cause of Friday's collision is ongoing, and the wrecked vehicle remains in the custody of security personnel. As Lagos continues to grapple with the challenges of managing the interaction between rail and road traffic, the PWD crossing remains a stark reminder of the dangers that persist at one of the city's most notorious intersections.
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