The Nigerian Railway Corporation has blamed human error, excessive speeding, and improper use of the emergency braking system for the Abuja–Kaduna train derailment that left several passengers injured last month.
Managing Director of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, disclosed this in a statement on Monday while confirming that repair works on the affected line had been completed.
According to Opeifa, “Our internal investigation revealed that the derailment was primarily caused by operator error, overspeeding, and the misapplication of the emergency brake system. Management has accepted the findings and recommendations of the in-house team.”
The incident occurred on August 26 near Asham, shortly after the train departed Abuja for Kaduna with over 600 passengers on board. Twenty-two passengers sustained injuries, while many others were left traumatized.
Opeifa explained that all affected coaches and locomotives had been recovered and moved to workshops for technical evaluation.
He added that train services would soon resume on the corridor after safety checks.
“Our engineers have repaired the main track to a safe operational standard. While train operations will recommence soon, the secondary line will remain closed until all necessary works are completed,” he said.
The NRC boss also confirmed that a comprehensive safety and infrastructure assessment was ongoing to ensure passenger protection before full operations resume.
“We are carrying out a thorough assessment of the corridor to guarantee durability, reliability, and safety. This process includes re-evaluating the repaired sections and other critical infrastructure,” Opeifa noted.
On the fate of the injured passengers, the NRC said efforts were underway to reach all victims.
“Out of the 618 passengers on board, 22 sustained injuries and are recovering. We have successfully contacted 512 passengers, while 71 are yet to be reached due to unresponsive lines or incorrect contact details,” Opeifa explained.
He expressed appreciation to passengers and the public for their patience during the recovery period, while also acknowledging the contributions of the Ministry of Transportation, security agencies, and the media.
“We sincerely thank Nigerians for their understanding. We also appreciate the support of the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Alkali, and the Federal Ministry of Transportation,” he said.
The Corporation added that findings of its internal probe would be submitted to the Minister’s committee and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, which are also carrying out independent investigations.
