The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, on Wednesday accepted full responsibility for the Abuja–Kaduna train derailment that occurred along the Kaduna corridor on Tuesday.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Opeifa stressed that the investigation into the incident would not be brushed aside.
“Beyond apologising to Nigerians, I must say as the managing director and chief executive, I take full responsibility. In matters of safety, there can be no indifference. Once such an incident happens, the chief executive must accept responsibility, and I am doing so,” Opeifa declared.
He confirmed that four passengers sustained serious injuries, while two others were treated and discharged immediately.
“There were no fatalities, which we must be grateful for. For this type of accident, one often expects some loss of life, but thankfully, that did not occur. We will continue to follow up with the injured and with all 618 passengers for post-traumatic care,” he explained.
Opeifa assured the public that the NRC would work to prevent a recurrence. He cited the recent closure of the Warri–Itakpe line for safety repairs as evidence of the corporation’s commitment to safeguarding passengers.
On whether sabotage might have been involved, he said it would be premature to speculate, stressing that security forces—including the Nigerian Air Force and Army—patrol the corridor. He added that investigators would determine the exact cause.
The NRC chief noted that services on the Abuja–Kaduna line would not resume until the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) authorised reconstruction and a safety audit was completed. He estimated that once clearance was granted, the work should take no more than 30 days.
The derailment occurred shortly after the train departed Abuja at about 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Following the incident, the NRC suspended operations on the route until further notice.
In January 2023, another Abuja–Kaduna train derailed in the Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory, though no casualties were reported.