A moving train collided with a Toyota Hiace bus in the bustling Arena area of Oshodi, Lagos, on Monday night, 22 December 2025, but remarkably, no lives were lost or injuries reported.
The incident, which could have turned deadly given the history of similar accidents in the city, was swiftly managed by emergency responders. According to a preliminary report from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), signed by Permanent Secretary Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu and dated 23 December 2025, the agency’s team was alerted via its toll-free lines at around 7:53 pm. The response plan was immediately activated from the Cappa Base in Oshodi, with the Lagos Response Team (LRT) arriving at the scene by 8:11 pm.
Upon assessment, responders found that the white Toyota Hiace bus, bearing registration number AGL-671-XR, had veered onto the rail tracks while exiting the Arena shopping complex. “Preliminary investigation conducted by the Agency’s Response Team revealed the immediate cause of the incident was due to reckless driving on the part of the Toyota Hi-Ace bus driver,” the report stated. The oncoming train struck the bus, leaving it stuck on the tracks and sustaining significant damage from the impact.
Fortunately, LASEMA confirmed that “no casualty nor mortality was recorded as a result of the incident.” This outcome stands in stark contrast to previous rail accidents in Lagos, where fatalities have been common. For instance, a 2023 collision between a train and a government staff bus in the Shogunle area resulted in multiple deaths and dozens of injuries, while earlier incidents in 2020 at similar crossings in Oshodi claimed lives.
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To prevent escalation, the LASEMA team conducted a risk assessment and implemented safety measures. They urgently notified the railway station to halt train operations until the bus could be cleared. The damaged vehicle was extracted from the tracks and towed to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) yard in Oshodi. “The rail track has been set free and normal activities has been restored. Recovery Operation has been successfully concluded,” the agency noted. The operation involved collaboration between LASEMA personnel from Cappa Base and LASTMA officers.
Such accidents highlight ongoing concerns about safety at railway crossings in Lagos, a megacity with heavy traffic and expanding rail networks. Drivers often attempt to beat trains at unguarded or poorly signalled points, leading to preventable mishaps. The Nigerian Railway Corporation has in the past emphasised the need for caution, while agencies like LASEMA and LASTMA continue to advocate for better adherence to traffic rules around rail lines.
