COMMUTERS and motorists along the busy Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway were thrown into panic on Thursday morning after a coach detached from a moving train in the Ladipo area of Lagos, triggering fears of a potential disaster.
News Point Nigeria reports that the incident occurred around 8:00 am when a passenger train en route from Ogba Ayo in Ogun State to Apapa in Lagos experienced an unexpected mechanical malfunction.
Witnesses say the last coach of the train detached abruptly, coming to a halt while the rest of the train continued its motion before being stopped.
According to onlookers, the sudden detachment startled nearby residents, commuters, and drivers already navigating the notoriously congested corridor.
“Everyone was shocked by what happened, but thankfully, no lives were lost,” said Oloruntoba Omodele, a roadside vendor who witnessed the incident unfold.
The detachment caused a temporary gridlock along the expressway, already burdened with peak-hour traffic. The stationary coach partially obstructed the roadway, prompting emergency response teams to act swiftly.
Personnel from the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and security agencies were deployed to the scene to manage traffic, secure the coach, and assist with reconnecting the detached section.
Authorities were able to move the affected train off the road after reconnection, restoring traffic flow within a couple of hours. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
As of press time, the Nigerian Railway Corporation had not issued any official statement concerning the incident. The exact cause of the mechanical failure remains unknown, but sources familiar with rail operations suggest possible coupling failure or track vibration as contributing factors.
Transport analysts have described the situation as a near-miss that could have had severe consequences had the train been moving at higher speed or if commuters had been disembarking.
Calls have been renewed for the NRC to improve routine maintenance, invest in modern train coupling systems, and conduct safety audits of all passenger trains operating on urban and intercity routes.
While many commuters expressed relief that the incident didn’t escalate into a tragedy, others expressed frustration at what they called “recurring lapses” in rail safety.
“We are using trains to avoid Lagos traffic, but these incidents make us question how safe we really are,” said Adebayo Yusuf, a regular train commuter.
Stakeholders are now urging the NRC and the Federal Ministry of Transportation to launch a formal investigation, ensure transparent findings, and implement preventive measures.
