Just In: NRC Halts Abuja–Kaduna Train Services After Derailment
NRC Halts Abuja–Kaduna Train Services After Derailment
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended services on the Abuja–Kaduna rail corridor until further notice following Tuesday’s derailment. Eagles Sight News has gathered.
Managing Director of NRC, Kayode Opeifa, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Abuja, only a few hours after the incident. He explained that technical experts from the Corporation, in collaboration with officials of the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and other relevant bodies, are already at the site to conduct a thorough investigation.
Opeifa refuted speculations that the trains were not properly maintained, stressing that all affected passengers will be reimbursed as refunds have been initiated. He also met with some of the passengers at Asham and Idu train stations in Abuja.
According to him, six passengers sustained minor injuries and were promptly treated, though the exact passenger manifest for the affected train is yet to be confirmed.
In the meantime, the NSIB has launched a formal inquiry into the derailment. The Bureau’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Bimbo Oladeji, confirmed that preliminary findings show six passengers were injured, with no deaths recorded. A special “go-team” has been dispatched to the site to gather evidence, interact with stakeholders, and determine what led to the mishap.
The Director General of NSIB, Alex Badeh Jr., expressed sympathy for those involved in the accident, stating: “We deeply sympathise with all who sustained injuries. The Bureau has deployed investigators to the site to ensure the root cause of this derailment is uncovered. Our commitment is to ensure safer rail transport for Nigerians through a transparent and independent investigation.”
According to the Bureau, the ongoing probe will look into both the immediate and underlying causes of the derailment, with the goal of issuing safety recommendations that can avert similar occurrences in the future. It also assured that regular updates will be shared as the process advances, while support is being extended to passengers affected.
The accident occurred shortly after the train departed Abuja around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, heading toward Kaduna. Passengers described the experience as tense and frightening, with many scrambling to safety as coaches veered off the track.