The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed that 20 passengers sustained injuries in the Abuja–Kaduna train derailment that occurred on August 26, 2025, between Kubwa and Asham stations.
The Corporation had initially reported only seven injured passengers. However, in an updated statement issued on Wednesday and personally signed by its Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, the NRC disclosed that further investigations revealed a higher casualty figure, with nine victims currently in critical condition.
According to the statement, “The NRC wishes to inform the general public on the progress made in the management of passenger tracing, treatment of the injured, recovery of its rolling stock, and restoration of the tracks following the derailment incident involving the Abuja–Kaduna-bound train. As of September 2, 2025, seven days after the incident, NRC engineers have successfully recovered a locomotive and four coaches (out of two locomotives and eight DMU coaches), which have been railed to Idu Station for assessment using the newly constructed 100-metre track off the damaged line.”
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The Corporation added that preparations were ongoing for the deployment of heavy-duty equipment to recover the remaining four coaches and the second locomotive still at the site.
A total of 618 persons were on board the affected train, including 583 passengers, 15 NRC crew members, one medical personnel, eight cleaners, and 11 catering staff. All were safely evacuated from the scene.
Dr. Opeifa explained that while seven passengers were initially reported to be critically injured, further passenger tracing by the NRC medical team confirmed that 20 individuals sustained various degrees of injury, nine of them critical. “The Corporation takes full responsibility for the incident and is actively supporting those affected,” the statement emphasized.
To support victims and their families, the NRC announced the establishment of an Incident Desk to provide information and updates. Dedicated phone lines have been released for inquiries: Queen – 0703 645 2228, Lilian – 0703 199 3211, and Abubakar – 0803 659 3212. So far, 510 out of the 583 passengers on the manifest have been successfully contacted.
The NRC Managing Director expressed gratitude to security agencies for their prompt intervention at the accident site, describing their role as vital in ensuring a smooth and safe recovery process. He also acknowledged the media for its continuous support during what he described as a challenging period.
Furthermore, Dr. Opeifa appreciated the visit of the Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali, who inspected the site and commended the NRC recovery efforts.
Reassuring passengers of the Corporation’s commitment, the statement concluded: “The NRC wishes to reassure its esteemed passengers and the general public that every necessary measure is being taken to restore full train operations in the shortest possible time. Passenger safety and service reliability remain the Corporation’s top priorities.”
