The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed that the derailment of the Abuja–Kaduna passenger train on 26 August 2025 was caused by a combination of human error, excessive speed, and the improper use of the emergency braking system.
The accident, which occurred shortly after the train departed Abuja around 11 a.m., left 22 passengers injured and heightened public anxiety over safety on one of Nigeria’s busiest rail corridors.
Eyewitnesses recalled scenes of panic as several coaches toppled, forcing passengers to scramble for safety, with some initially fearing the incident was a terrorist attack.
In a statement on Monday, NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, said recovery and repair efforts had been completed on the affected section of the rail line.
He explained that damaged locomotives and coaches were re-railed and moved to workshops for technical assessments and maintenance.
“Our engineers have restored the main track to operational condition, ensuring trains can run safely. While services will soon resume, work on the secondary line is still ongoing until full repairs are achieved,” Opeifa said.
Following the derailment, the NRC launched an internal investigation to determine the root causes. Opeifa disclosed that the management had already adopted the recommendations of its in-house inquiry, which identified human factors as the primary triggers of the incident.
“Our findings clearly established that excessive speeding and the wrong application of the emergency braking system, compounded by operator error, were responsible for the derailment,” he stated.
The NRC boss also revealed that two external investigations are underway—one led by the Federal Ministry of Transportation under Minister Senator Sa’idu Alkali and another by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau.
Their reports, he said, would provide independent guidance for further safety measures.
As part of its corrective strategy, the Corporation has commenced a full safety and infrastructure audit of the Abuja–Kaduna corridor.
This includes comprehensive inspections of the repaired track and related assets to ensure compliance with global standards of safety, durability, and reliability before full operations resume.
Passenger welfare, Opeifa emphasized, remains central to the NRC’s response. Of the 618 passengers on board during the accident, 22 sustained injuries and are currently recovering.
The Corporation has successfully reached 512 passengers, while efforts to contact the remaining 71 continue. Challenges, he noted, include incomplete passenger details, lack of response, and unavailable contacts.
He expressed gratitude to passengers, security agencies, and the media for their cooperation during the crisis. “We deeply appreciate the patience of our passengers, the support of security operatives in maintaining calm during recovery operations, and the accuracy of media coverage. Special thanks also go to the Honourable Minister of Transportation and his team for their unwavering support,” he said.
While assuring Nigerians that train services on the Abuja–Kaduna route would soon restart, Opeifa reiterated the Corporation’s commitment to improving operational standards.
He stressed that lessons from the derailment would guide reforms in staff training, safety protocols, and monitoring mechanisms.
The Abuja–Kaduna line remains a lifeline for thousands of commuters and businesses.
However, the recent accident underscores the urgent need for stronger safety culture, tighter operational oversight, and renewed public confidence in Nigeria’s rail transport system.
According to the NRC, new safety measures will be rolled out as services return, aimed at making the corridor safer, more reliable, and more resilient against future disruptions.
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