Lagos train-bus collision: ‘My mother was due for retirement in January’, son of victim laments

As Lagos State still mourns the death of civil servants involved in Thursday’s train-bus collision, Abdullah, the son of 59-year-old Ganiyat Salawudeen, who died in the incident, has lamented that his mother died due to the recklessness of the bus driver.

The 31-year-old Abdullah, who is the first son, could not control his tears, when The Guardian visited their Isolo home, yesterday.

According to him, his late mother, who worked with the Ministry of Finance, under the State Treasury department, until her demise, was due for retirement by next year January.

He said his mother was buried on Friday in line with Muslim rites, while blaming the bus driver for the death of his late mother and five others.

On what the family expects from the government, he said: “Some government officials who were on ground when we went to take the corpse of my late mother at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), made some promises of compensation from the state government.

“I also believe that all gratuities meant for mum would be hastened and perhaps given to us soon.

“I am also aware of the governor’s visit to families of other victims, hopefully, we are expecting him. But if he doesn’t come, we believe there will be a response or call from the state government.”

Meanwhile, the driver of the government staff bus that collided with the train at Shogunle, Ikeja area of the state, Oluwaseun Osinbajo, has been arrested.

The Lagos State Police Command, who disclosed this said the driver would be prosecuted soon.