Opeifa Issues Public Apology to NTA’s Ladi Bala Over Derailment Scene Incident

Opeifa Issues Public Apology to NTA’s Ladi Bala Over Derailment Scene Incident
Names Journalist ‘Media Advocacy Ambassador’
Cites Pressure During Train Emergency

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has issued a public apology to Comrade Ladi Bala, a correspondent with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), over a verbal outburst that occurred during her coverage of the recent Abuja-Kaduna train derailment.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the incident took place on August 26, left several passengers injured and caused major disruption to rail services.

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Amid the chaos at the scene, Dr. Opeifa reportedly lashed out at Comrade Bala, an action that drew widespread criticism from media stakeholders.

Speaking at a press conference organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council on Sunday, August 31, Dr. Opeifa admitted to making “unkind” remarks in a moment of intense pressure and crisis management.

“I sincerely apologize for the regrettable comments I made. They were made under stress, and they in no way reflect my respect for the press or for Comrade Bala, a seasoned journalist,” he said.

Comrade Bala, who is also the immediate past president of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), was reportedly carrying out her professional duties when the verbal exchange occurred.

In a gesture of reconciliation, Dr. Opeifa announced her appointment as an “Ambassador for Media Advocacy”, praising her for maintaining professionalism in the face of provocation.

According to the NRC boss, the derailment affected eight coaches and one locomotive, with 618 passengers on board. He confirmed that 20 people were injured, including seven critically.

Emergency protocols were activated within minutes, involving agencies such as NEMA, the Nigerian military, the Federal Ministry of Health, and relevant state authorities. Replacement coaches were dispatched, and contact tracing using passenger manifests began within 45 minutes.

“Some passengers had already dispersed to nearby towns, but we traced them by phone. I personally visited seven injured passengers, including one in Zaria,” Opeifa added.

He praised the swift efforts of the military, police, local vigilantes, and medical teams, noting that the train’s safety features were so effective that some passengers in business class didn’t realize there had been an accident until they disembarked.

Dr. Opeifa emphasized his long history of press advocacy and human rights activism, referencing his roles in ASUU, the Campaign for Democracy, and the June 12 movement.

“I have worked with journalists all my life. I am not an enemy of the media,” he stated.

He also highlighted NRC’s gender-inclusive leadership, revealing that 50% of the corporation’s management directors are women promoted strictly on merit.

The NRC chief reaffirmed the corporation’s readiness to strengthen collaboration with the media and improve communication during emergencies.

By the time of the press briefing, two coaches and one locomotive had been cleared from the accident site, with engineers laying 50 meters of new track to support ongoing recovery operations.

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