The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, has accepted full responsibility for Tuesday’s derailment of the Abuja-Kaduna train, which occurred shortly after departure from the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Opeifa assured Nigerians that the ongoing investigation into the incident would be thorough, transparent, and aimed at preventing a recurrence.
“Beyond apologising to Nigerians, I want to state clearly—as the Managing Director and Chief Executive—I take full responsibility,” he said. “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.”
Opeifa confirmed that, while there were no fatalities, four passengers sustained serious injuries.
“There was no loss of life, and we thank God for that. Given the nature of this kind of incident, fatalities are not uncommon. So we are grateful it was a near miss,” he said.
“Of those injured, four are in serious condition. Two others were treated and discharged. We are monitoring the status of the remaining passengers, including the 618 others who were on board, to ensure proper follow-up care, especially considering the potential post-traumatic stress.”
While reiterating that such incidents should never occur, the NRC boss vowed that the agency would do everything possible to prevent future derailments.
“I want to assure Nigerians that this kind of incident is not acceptable. It should not happen. But when it does, it is an opportunity for us to raise standards and strengthen safety protocols,” he said.
He noted that the Warri-Itakpe corridor had recently been shut down proactively for safety upgrades, a decision he made personally.
“I ordered the shutdown of the Warri-Itakpe line three weeks ago for safety reasons. The work being done, cutting and replacing sections of track, is evidence of our commitment to safety.”
Asked whether sabotage or foul play was suspected, Opeifa declined to speculate.
“It would be premature for me to comment on that. The investigation is ongoing, and I do not want to undermine the authority of the agencies in charge,” he said.
He, however, stressed that the Kaduna corridor is under close surveillance.
“Our tracks are closely monitored by the military. When the derailment occurred, an Air Force helicopter was on the scene within 5 to 10 minutes. The Nigerian Army and Air Force maintain a strong presence along that route. To date, we’ve had no incidents of terrorism or banditry on that corridor—but we’re not taking anything for granted.”
On when operations might resume, Opeifa said reconstruction and safety audits will only begin once the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) clears the site.
“The first step is for NSIB to declare the site open for reconstruction. Once that’s done, we expect to complete repairs and audits within 30 days,” he stated.
The Abuja-Kaduna train derailed around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, shortly after departing Abuja. Passengers described the aftermath as chaotic, with people scrambling to safety.
Following the incident, the NRC suspended train services on the route until further notice. Opeifa confirmed that a joint investigation is underway involving NRC technical staff, the NSIB, and other relevant agencies.
He also dismissed claims suggesting the train was unfit for operation, adding that full ticket refunds had been initiated for all passengers affected.
This is not the first derailment on the route. In January 2023, a similar incident occurred near Kubwa, FCT. No casualties were recorded in that case either.
