Safety Concerns Persist as Abuja-Kaduna Rail Service Resumes After Five-Week Hiatus

Dependable NG reports that the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has officially resumed its passenger train services along the Abuja–Kaduna corridor, five weeks after a derailment at Asham Station forced a suspension of operations. The recommencement of service on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, follows what the NRC termed the successful completion of “all necessary checks,” a step the corporation says underscores its commitment to ensuring “smooth, reliable, and secure train services for the traveling public.”

The derailment, which occurred on August 26, was the second at the same station within a mere 13 months. This repetition has deeply troubled commuters and safety experts alike, prompting an investigation that has pointed to systemic failures.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), which probed the incident, delivered a preliminary report that starkly contrasted with the NRC’s initial explanation of human error and excessive speed. The NSIB’s findings revealed that the derailment was primarily triggered by defective infrastructure and critical lapses in safety management by the NRC itself. Specifically, the NSIB cited the following core issues:

• Infrastructure Neglect: An unserviceable automatic switch mechanism at the Asham station’s crossing point forced staff to manually operate the switch. Crucially, the point clip used for locking the switch was broken.
• Patched Repairs: The report noted that some sleepers damaged in the previous derailment at the same location were only patched, rather than being properly replaced, compromising the track’s structural integrity.
• Operational Deficiencies: NRC personnel had only initial training, with no formal refresher courses, and critical monitoring equipment like CCTV cameras and clocks were unserviceable or unavailable.

The NRC, while not directly addressing the NSIB’s specific findings in its resumption statement, emphasized its dedication to safety. The corporation announced a dedicated maintenance schedule, with every Wednesday now designated as a maintenance day for the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service, during which no commercial service will operate.

The revised schedule for the resumed service is as follows:

The corporation expressed its deep appreciation for the patience and understanding of all Nigerians, especially train passengers, during the suspension period, and reaffirmed its commitment to providing a safe, reliable, and efficient rail alternative. The NSIB’s report, however, serves as a clear warning that without a comprehensive overhaul of infrastructure and operational protocols, the repeated danger on the corridor will remain a significant concern for the travelling public.