NRC Suspends Abuja–Kaduna Train Service After Derailment

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended train operations on the Abuja–Kaduna route following a derailment incident on Tuesday.

The train, which departed Abuja around 11 a.m. en route to Kaduna, went off the track along the corridor, sparking panic among passengers.

NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, announced the suspension while briefing journalists in Abuja shortly after the incident.

He confirmed that the corporation’s technical staff, in collaboration with the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and other relevant agencies, are already at the derailment site conducting investigations.

Opeifa also dismissed concerns that the trains were in poor condition.
“The refund of the ticket fees has been initiated for all passengers on board,” he said.

The NRC boss disclosed that six passengers sustained minor injuries during the incident and have since been treated.

However, he admitted that the exact number of passengers onboard the affected train has yet to be determined.

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Opeifa later received some of the passengers at the Asham station, Idu train station, Abuja, where reassurances were given over their safety.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched a formal investigation into the derailment.

Its Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Bimbo Oladeji, confirmed that six passengers sustained injuries, though no fatalities were recorded.

The Bureau stated that a “go-team” has been dispatched to the site to collect evidence, liaise with stakeholders, and probe the circumstances surrounding the derailment.

The NSIB quoted its Director General, Alex Badeh Jr., as expressing sympathy to passengers affected by the incident.

“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 probe will cover both direct and underlying factors responsible for the derailment, with recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Passengers on board described the experience as chaotic, with many scrambling to safety as the train came to a halt.

NSIB has pledged to keep Nigerians updated on the investigation and also extended support to all passengers impacted by the accident.