The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended train operations on the Abuja–Kaduna corridor following Tuesday’s derailment incident.
NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, confirmed the suspension while addressing journalists in Abuja, hours after the accident. He said technical staff of the corporation, alongside officials of the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and other relevant agencies, were already on site investigating the cause of the derailment.
Opeifa dismissed claims that the trains were in poor condition, adding that a refund process had been initiated for passengers on board the affected train. He disclosed that six passengers sustained minor injuries and had since received medical treatment, but noted that the exact number of passengers on board had not yet been determined.
The NSIB has also launched a probe into the derailment. Its Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Bimbo Oladeji, said preliminary findings confirmed that no fatalities were recorded, though six people were injured. He explained that the Bureau had dispatched investigators to the scene to gather evidence and work with stakeholders in order to establish both the immediate and underlying causes of the accident.
NSIB Director General, Alex Badeh Jr., expressed sympathy for those affected and assured Nigerians that the Bureau was committed to ensuring safer rail transport through a transparent investigation. He said the findings would guide recommendations to prevent future occurrences, with regular updates to be provided as the inquiry progresses.
The derailment occurred along the Kaduna corridor shortly after the train left Abuja at about 11 a.m. Eyewitnesses described the aftermath as chaotic, with passengers scrambling to safety.
