A harrowing incident on Tuesday has led to the suspension of the Abuja-Kaduna train service. A train derailed around 11 a.m., causing chaos and fear among passengers and bringing the crucial railway route to a complete standstill.
While the scenes were described as chaotic, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed that the outcome was not catastrophic. According to NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, six passengers sustained minor injuries and have been treated. The exact number of people on board has yet to be confirmed, but the NRC is offering full refunds to all affected passengers.
An Investigation Is Underway
To uncover the cause of the accident, a joint team from the NRC and the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) is on the ground. Alex Badeh Jr., the Director-General of the NSIB, has vowed to ensure the probe is transparent and independent.
In a statement, Badeh Jr. said, “We deeply sympathize with all who sustained injuries… Our commitment is to ensure safer rail transport for Nigerians through a transparent and independent investigation.”
This investigation will not only look at what caused this specific derailment but also make recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The NRC has temporarily suspended operations on the route as the cleanup and investigation continue. For now, the focus remains on ensuring a full and transparent process to get to the bottom of the matter.
