Opeifa takes responsibility for Abuja-Kaduna train derailment, assures investigation
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has taken full responsibility for the derailment of the Abuja-Kaduna train on Tuesday, which occurred shortly after departure from Abuja along the Kaduna corridor.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Opeifa apologized to Nigerians and pledged a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident. “When it comes to safety, there is no room for indifference. Once something like this happens, the chief executive must own it—and I do,” he said.
The NRC boss confirmed that four passengers sustained serious injuries, while two others were discharged shortly after the incident. No fatalities were recorded among the 624 passengers on board. Opeifa said the corporation would follow up with all passengers due to the post-traumatic experience.
He emphasized that while the derailment was regrettable, measures were being taken to prevent recurrence. “We shut down the Warri-Itakpe route three weeks ago for safety reasons, and we are committed to maintaining the highest standards across all tracks,” he said.
Addressing concerns about sabotage, Opeifa stated it was too early to draw conclusions. He reassured the public that the affected track is closely monitored by the military, with the Nigerian Air Force and Army ensuring safety along the corridor.
The NRC has suspended operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route until further notice. The resumption of services will depend on a safety audit following clearance for reconstruction by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB). Opeifa noted that reconstruction work could take up to 30 days once the site is declared safe.
Passengers described the derailment scene as chaotic, with many scrambling to safety. Ticket refunds have already been initiated for all affected travelers, according to the NRC.
This is the second derailment on the Abuja-Kaduna route in recent years; a similar incident occurred in January 2023 near Kubwa, FCT, with no casualties recorded. Opeifa reiterated NRC’s commitment to safety and vowed to ensure such incidents do not recur.
