The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says it will soon announce a new date for the resumption of Abuja–Kaduna train services. The Corporation explained that it has made strong progress in repairs, recovery, and safety checks after last month’s derailment.
This new update is different from its earlier statement, which promised services would restart just 10 days after the accident.
In a statement signed by its Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, the NRC confirmed that all the derailed coaches and locomotives have been re-railed and recovered. These have been taken to workshops for full assessment and further technical work.
The statement added: “Our engineers have repaired the main line enough to allow safe train movement. Train services will resume on this track, while repairs on the second line continue. The secondary line will remain closed until all works are completed.”
Opeifa also said that the engineers have started a full safety and infrastructure review to ensure the corridor meets top standards of safety, durability, and reliability. This stage includes careful checks on the repaired section and other critical parts of the route.
The NRC stressed that services will only restart after all technical inspections, tests, and certifications are complete. “Safety remains our top priority,” the Corporation assured, adding that it is committed to restoring public trust in rail services.
On passenger welfare, NRC explained that of the 618 passengers on board during the accident, 22 were injured and are recovering. It said 512 passengers have been successfully contacted, while 71 are yet to be reached due to wrong numbers, unavailability, or lack of response.
The Corporation also confirmed it has completed an internal investigation into the incident and accepted all the recommendations. It is still waiting for the report of the committee set up by the Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alikali.
On the findings of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), which linked the accident to speeding and wrong wheel application, the NRC stated: “Our own investigation shows the derailment was caused by human error in the use of the emergency braking system.”
