…Investigation begins, safety audit ordered before reopening
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has taken full responsibility for Tuesday’s Abuja-Kaduna train derailment, assuring Nigerians of a thorough investigation and improved safety measures going forward.
The incident, which occurred shortly after the train departed Abuja at about 11 a.m., threw passengers into panic as several coaches veered off the track along the Kaduna corridor.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Opeifa said:
“Beyond apologising to Nigerians, I want to state clearly—as the Managing Director and Chief Executive—I take full responsibility. When it comes to safety, there is no room for indifference. Once something like this happens, the chief executive must own it—and I do.”
The NRC boss confirmed that six passengers sustained injuries, four of them serious, while two others were treated and discharged immediately. He stressed that although no life was lost, the corporation would provide follow-up medical and psychological support for all 618 passengers on board.
“This was a near miss. For this kind of derailment, fatalities are common, but we thank God none was recorded,” he added.
Opeifa assured Nigerians that measures were being taken to prevent future accidents. He cited the recent shutdown of the Warri–Itakpe line for urgent track replacement as proof of NRC’s commitment to safety.
“This incident is not expected, not prayed for, and should not happen. But when it does, it must bring out the best in us. We will ensure it does not recur,” he said.
On fears of sabotage, he declined to speculate, saying it would be premature before the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) concludes its probe. However, he noted that the corridor is heavily secured by the military, with helicopters and ground troops deployed.
The NRC suspended train operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route immediately after the incident. Opeifa explained that the line would remain closed until the NSIB declares the site open for reconstruction, after which a full safety audit would be conducted.
“From the time they declare the site ready for reconstruction, we don’t see ourselves spending more than 30 days,” he said.
The derailment is the second on the Abuja-Kaduna corridor in recent years. In January 2023, another Abuja-Kaduna train went off track at Kubwa in the Federal Capital Territory, though no casualty was recorded.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have both expressed sadness over Tuesday’s incident, urging the NRC to prioritise passenger safety and restore public confidence in rail transport.
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