Fresh Update Emerges On Abuja-Kaduna Train Mishap

Fresh Update Emerges On Abuja-Kaduna Train Mishap.
Investigators secure evidence, final report due within 30 days.
NRC suspends services, promises refunds for affected passengers.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed that 12 passengers sustained injuries during the Abuja-Kaduna train derailment that occurred last week.

The Director General of the Bureau, Captain Alex Badeh, disclosed this while briefing journalists on Tuesday, noting that the train had 583 passengers on board when the incident took place. The derailment happened last Tuesday along the Kaduna corridor, shortly after the train departed Abuja at about 11 a.m.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Badeh revealed that an Investigator-in-Charge (IIC) has been appointed to lead the inquiry in collaboration with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and other relevant stakeholders. He added that evidence-protection measures were immediately implemented at the site.

“The team has secured the scene and preserved critical data, including CCTV footage and other materials that could help determine the cause of the derailment,” Badeh stated.

He assured that a final report would be released within 30 days of the incident — now 23 days away — and would be shared with the NRC, regulators, and the general public. He also appealed for stronger government support, stressing the need to address funding gaps to improve investigation capacity and ensure safer transport systems.

Some passengers who were on board described the experience as chaotic, with commuters rushing to safety when the train veered off the tracks.

Following the incident, the Nigerian Railway Corporation announced the suspension of services on the Abuja-Kaduna corridor until further notice. The Managing Director, Fidet Opeifa, confirmed that technical staff, alongside NSIB investigators and other agencies, had been deployed to the scene.

He dismissed speculation that the trains were unfit for service, insisting they were in good condition. Opeifa also confirmed that ticket refunds had been initiated for all affected passengers.

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