NRC completes recovery after Abuja–Kaduna Train crash, blames Human Error

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says it has completed the recovery of all coaches and locomotives involved in the Abuja-Kaduna train derailment of August 26, 2025, at Asham, with track repairs now nearing completion and safety assessments underway.

In a statement signed by its Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, the NRC confirmed that all affected assets have been successfully re-railed and moved to workshops for comprehensive evaluation.

“Our team of engineers has successfully repaired the main line to a level that allows us to safely resume operations. While train services will recommence, work on the secondary track will continue simultaneously,” the Corporation stated.

It added that full resumption of services would only follow technical inspections, certifications, and a corridor-wide safety audit.

“Safety remains our top priority,” it emphasised.

The Corporation disclosed that 22 of the 618 passengers on board sustained injuries and are recovering.

The statement said the NRC has contacted 512 passengers, though 71 remain unreachable due to incomplete or incorrect contact information.

NRC said its internal investigation identified human error, excessive speeding and misapplication of the emergency braking system, as the likely cause of the incident, while awaiting reports from the Ministerial Committee and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).

Acknowledging public patience, NRC expressed gratitude to passengers, media organisations, and security agencies for their support during recovery operations, while commending its engineers for “extraordinary competence.”

An official date for the resumption of Abuja–Kaduna train services will be announced soon, the Corporation added.