By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
KAYODE OLAIFA, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), has taken full responsibility for Tuesday’s derailment of an Abuja-Kaduna passenger train near Asham station in Kaduna State.
The incident, which occurred shortly after the train departed Abuja at about 11.00am, left six passengers injured – four of them seriously – but no fatalities were recorded, according to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
‘I take full responsibility’
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Opeifa described the derailment as “serious,” noting that several coaches and the locomotive capsized.
“Let me say, beyond apologising to Nigeria, I want to say as the managing director and chief executive, I take full responsibility. And in the case of safety, there is no indifference. This was not just a derailment, it was a derailment with capsizing,” he said.
The NRC boss confirmed that emergency protocols were activated immediately after the crash, with federal health services, the Kaduna State government, and security agencies deployed to the scene.
He added that 618 passengers were on board and would be monitored for trauma. “Two were discharged immediately, four are serious, and we’ll follow up on the rest,” he said.
Investigation Underway
The NSIB has taken over the probe to determine the cause of the derailment. Opeifa said investigators would consider all possible factors, including human error, track failure, or mechanical issues.
“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 that it’s ready, I don’t see us spending more than 30 days to fix it,” he explained.
The NRC has suspended operations on the Abuja–Kaduna route until investigations are concluded and a safety audit completed.
Security concerns dismissed
On suggestions of sabotage, Opeifa said it would be premature to speculate but stressed that the Abuja–Kaduna corridor is heavily guarded.
“This track is being monitored by the military. Within five to ten minutes of the derailment, a helicopter was hovering. The Air Force, Army, police, civil defence, vigilantes, and local communities are all part of the surveillance,” he said.
Previous incidents
The Abuja–Kaduna rail corridor has faced safety and operational challenges in recent years. In January 2023, a train derailed in the Kubwa area of Abuja, though no casualties were reported.
Opeifa acknowledged issues with service quality, including faulty coaches and poor onboard facilities, but said reforms were underway to raise standards and adopt aviation-style service protocols.
He assured passengers that lessons from the latest derailment would drive safety improvements.
“An incident like this is not expected, not prayed for, and should not happen. But where it does, it must bring out the best in us,” he said.
