The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended train operations on the Abuja–Kaduna route until further notice, following Tuesday’s derailment of a Kaduna-bound train.
Managing Director of the NRC, Kayode Opeifa, announced the suspension while briefing journalists in Abuja hours after the incident. He said technical staff of the corporation, working with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and other agencies, were already at the site to investigate the cause of the derailment.
Opeifa dismissed claims that the trains were not in good condition, adding that refunds had been initiated for all passengers on board the affected service. He also confirmed that six passengers sustained minor injuries and had since been treated, though the exact number of passengers onboard was yet to be determined.
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Earlier, the NRC chief visited some of the passengers at Asham Station and Idu Train Station in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the NSIB has commenced a formal investigation into the derailment. Bimbo Oladeji, the Bureau’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, confirmed that a “go-team” had been dispatched to collect evidence, engage stakeholders, and probe the circumstances surrounding the accident.
According to the NSIB, the investigation will seek to identify both the direct and underlying factors behind the derailment and issue recommendations to prevent future incidents.
The train, which left Abuja around 11 a.m. on its way to Kaduna, derailed at KM 49 between Kubwa and Asham stations, throwing passengers into panic. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with people scrambling for safety.
