The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says it has made major progress in recovery, repair, and safety work after the Abuja–Kaduna train derailment that happened on August 26 at Asham.
NRC’s Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, revealed this in a statement released on Monday in Lagos.
He said engineers have successfully placed back on track and recovered all coaches and locomotives involved in the derailment.
The recovered trains, he explained, have been moved to designated workshops for full checks and technical repairs.
Opeifa confirmed that the main rail line has been repaired and is now safe for use, though work is still ongoing on the secondary track.
He added that the second line will stay closed until all needed repairs are completed.
According to him, engineers have also begun a full safety and infrastructure review of the corridor to ensure the rail system remains durable, reliable, and safe.
This stage, he said, involves thorough inspection of the repaired parts and other important infrastructure along the route.
He stressed that train services will only resume after inspections, technical tests, and certifications have been properly carried out.
“Safety remains our top priority. The corporation is determined to restore public trust in rail services,” Opeifa said.
On passenger welfare, he confirmed that out of the 618 passengers on board during the derailment, 22 were injured and are currently recovering.
He said 512 passengers have been contacted, but 71 others are still unreachable due to wrong or inactive contact details.
Opeifa added that NRC’s internal investigation has been completed and the management has accepted the findings.
He explained that the report linked the derailment to human error, including speeding and poor handling of the emergency braking system.
He also said the corporation is waiting for the final reports from the Ministerial Committee and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau before making further decisions.
Opeifa assured passengers that the official date for resumption of train services will be announced soon.
He thanked passengers for their patience, the media for timely updates, and security agencies for helping with recovery operations and protecting lives and property.
