The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced that train operations on the Abuja-Kaduna corridor will not resume until the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) declares the derailment site open for reconstruction.
Managing Director of NRC, Kayode Opeifa, disclosed this during a live television interview on Wednesday, following Tuesday’s derailment incident.
NSIB to Decide Reconstruction Timeline
Opeifa explained that the NRC cannot commence repair works or safety audits until the NSIB concludes its preliminary investigation.
“The first thing that will happen is that the NSIB will determine when the site is open for reconstruction. From the time they tell us it’s ready, I don’t see us spending more than 30 days. So, it depends on when they declare the site open,” he said.
The derailment occurred on Tuesday morning, shortly after a train departed Abuja en route to Kaduna at about 11 a.m. Passengers described the scene as chaotic, with many scrambling to safety.
NRC Suspends Abuja-Kaduna Train Services
In the aftermath of the accident, the NRC suspended all train operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route until further notice.
Opeifa, who has been NRC’s Managing Director since 2025, said he takes full responsibility for the derailment.
“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,” he said.
Casualties and Passenger Safety
According to NRC, no fatalities were recorded in the incident, though four passengers sustained serious injuries, while two others were treated and discharged.
Opeifa added that the corporation will monitor the recovery of the injured and provide post-trauma support for the remaining 618 passengers on board.
NRC Pledges Safety and Transparency
The NRC boss assured Nigerians that the derailment would be thoroughly investigated and promised improved safety measures across rail networks.
He noted that the NRC had earlier shut down the Warri-Itakpe rail line three weeks ago for safety upgrades, stressing that the same approach would be applied to the Abuja-Kaduna corridor.
On allegations of sabotage, Opeifa said it would be premature to speculate until investigators conclude their findings.
“This particular track is being monitored by the military. Within five to 10 minutes of the derailment, a helicopter was already hovering. The Nigerian Air Force and Army are along this corridor. We’ve not recorded any banditry or terrorism attacks here. But investigations will reveal what happened,” he stated.
Refunds for Affected Passengers
Opeifa confirmed that ticket refunds for passengers affected by the incident have already been initiated.
This is not the first derailment on the Abuja-Kaduna corridor. In January 2023, a train derailed near Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), but no casualties were recorded.
