Ministers Dismiss Sabotage in Abuja-Kaduna Train Derailment, Cite Operational Cause

The Minister of Transportation, Saidu Ahmed Alkali, and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, have assured the public of the safety of the Abuja-Kaduna rail line, following a derailment last week. Both officials have definitively ruled out sabotage as the cause.

Preliminary findings from an ongoing investigation indicate the incident was the result of an operational fault. Minister Alkali, addressing journalists at the State House, stated that the final report from a dedicated committee is awaited to avoid preempting the full investigation.

The derailment occurred at a junction point involving a “point machine,” a critical piece of infrastructure that guides trains between tracks. The Minister confirmed that repairs are underway, with four of the ten derailed coaches already evacuated using specialized cranes.

In a separate response, NRC Managing Director Opeifa issued an unreserved apology to journalists, particularly an NTA reporter who was denied access to the accident scene. He reaffirmed the corporation’s commitment to transparency and press freedom.

Regarding passenger safety, Opeifa confirmed that all 618 passengers on board were safely evacuated. Twenty individuals sustained minor injuries, and seven were briefly hospitalized but have since been discharged, with the NRC covering all medical expenses.

The incident has brought Nigeria’s broader rail safety challenges into focus. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveals 188 derailments occurred between 2020 and 2025, with 183 of those concentrated in the three-year period from 2020 to 2022.

While acknowledging persistent issues with vandalism of rail assets, the officials clarified that this specific event was not linked to such acts. Minister Alkali announced that the government is finalizing a comprehensive security plan with the Office of the National Security Adviser to protect critical infrastructure, which includes procuring advanced acoustic sensing systems.

Both the Ministry of Transportation and the NRC maintain that the Abuja-Kaduna line is secure and that every effort is being made to restore full service safely and promptly.