The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, has taken full responsibility for Tuesday’s Abuja-Kaduna train derailment and assured Nigerians of a transparent investigation
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Opeifa said safety is the corporation’s top priority and pledged to prevent a recurrence.
“Beyond apologising to Nigerians, I want to state clearly—as the Managing Director and Chief Executive—I take full responsibility. 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.
Opeifa confirmed that four passengers sustained serious injuries, while two others were treated and discharged. He added that NRC would monitor all 618 passengers on board for any post-traumatic effects.
“There was no fatality. We thank God. This was a near miss because for this kind of incident, you often see some level of fatality. We will follow up with the injured and ensure their proper recovery,” he said.
The NRC boss stressed that investigations by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and other relevant agencies would determine the cause of the derailment, declining to comment on speculation about sabotage.
“It would be premature for me to speak on that. But I assure Nigerians our tracks are secure, constantly monitored by the military. Within minutes of the derailment, a helicopter was on site, and the Nigerian Air Force and Army patrol that corridor regularly. We’ve had no issues of banditry or terrorism there,” Opeifa explained.
He said the NRC would conduct a full safety audit before reopening the route, adding that reconstruction would begin once the NSIB clears the site. “From the moment they declare it ready for reconstruction, I don’t see us spending more than 30 days,” he noted.
The incident, which occurred shortly after the train departed Abuja at about 11 a.m. for Kaduna, caused chaos among passengers, prompting NRC to suspend operations on the route.
Opeifa dismissed claims that the trains were poorly maintained and confirmed refunds for all ticket holders. He also cited earlier safety measures, including shutting down the Warri-Itakpe route for major track repairs, as evidence of NRC’s commitment to preventing accidents.
In January 2023, an Abuja-Kaduna train also derailed in the Kubwa area of Abuja, with no casualties recorded.
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Too bad