Mr. Femi Aina, the father of a member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Oreoluwa Aina, a 28-year-old, who died in Lagos train accident said his daughter was preparing for master’s in UK before the train crash.
Oreoluwa Aina, a National Youth Service Corps member, was one of those who died on Thursday when a Lagos State Government staff bus collided with a train in the PWD area of the state.
However, in an interview with the Punch her father, Femi Aina who speaks on her daughter’s plans after the service year said if not for this cashless policy, her daughter would not have followed thr bus. Noting that she did not have cash, so she had to follow the bus.
He said, “I was in Abuja watching the television around 9 am when I saw the incident. An hour after that, I got a call that my daughter was involved in it. That was when I knew what I saw on TV was actually happening to me.
“Then I immediately called my younger brother and sister in Lagos. I later received two more calls in another 10 minutes and by then, she was already in the ICU (intensive care unit).
“They were attending to her and at the same time calling me from there. I even heard some of the staff members praying for her. So, I rushed to the airport to get any available flight back to Lagos but when my plane was ready to take off by 4 pm, I was told that she had passed away.
“I know she boarded the staff bus, but not every day. If not for this cashless nonsense policy, she would not have followed that bus. But she did not have cash, so she had to follow the bus. She had just N200. They just kill people anyhow in this country.
“Oreoluwa was very dear to me. She was a gift from God to me and that is what her name implies. She feared God and she was hard-working. I used to tell her that she took the job like she was already a staff member of the state government. She was a very nice girl with visions and ambitions.
“She was preparing to go to the United Kingdom for her Master’s programme after her youth service ends in May, but unfortunately, all her plans had been dashed. She happened to be the first grandchild of my parents and she stayed with my mum here in Lagos because our dad passed away last year, so she had always been with her grandmother. She was dear to everyone around including church, school and at work. Her death is a great loss.
The remains of a member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Oreoluwa Aina, a 28-year-old, who died in Lagos train accident have been buried amid tears and wailing by family members, colleagues and well-wishers in Lagos, at the weekend.
Late Aina, was one of the six persons who died in the train and Lagos State Goverment staff bus’ accident on Thursday, March 9, 2023 at PWD, Ikeja area of the state.
The late corps member, who was serving with the Curriculum Services Department of the Lagos State Ministry of Education in Alausa, Ikeja, was buried on Saturday at Atan cemetery.