The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended operations on the Abuja-Kaduna train route following the derailment of a passenger train in the early hours of today, Tuesday 26th August.
NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, announced the suspension while briefing journalists in Abuja, just hours after the incident. He explained that technical staff of the corporation, alongside officials of the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and other relevant agencies, were already on site to investigate the cause of the derailment.
Opeifa dismissed claims suggesting that the trains were not in good condition, assuring the public that a refund process had already been initiated for all passengers on board. He also disclosed that six passengers sustained minor injuries but had since been treated. However, he noted that the exact number of passengers on board at the time of the derailment had yet to be determined.
The NRC boss, who visited some of the passengers at the Asham station and Idu train station in Abuja, reiterated the corporation’s commitment to ensuring passenger welfare.
NRC Train Derailment: NSIB Launches Probe into Kaduna Incident, Pledges Transparency
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched a full-scale investigation into the derailment. The Bureau’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Bimbo Oladeji, confirmed that preliminary reports indicated six passengers sustained injuries, with no fatalities recorded.
The NSIB stated that a go-team had been dispatched to the site to collect evidence, liaise with stakeholders, and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. Its Director General, Alex Badeh Jr., expressed sympathy for those affected.
“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,” Badeh said.
According to the Bureau, the investigation will examine both direct and underlying factors that may have contributed to the derailment, after which recommendations will be issued to help prevent future occurrences. It further assured that updates would be provided as the probe progresses, while extending support to all passengers impacted by the accident.
The incident occurred along the Kaduna corridor shortly after the train departed Abuja around 11 a.m., en route to Kaduna. A passenger on board described the aftermath as chaotic, with commuters scrambling to safety.
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