The Minister of Transportation, Saidu Ahmed Alkali, has assured Nigerians that last week’s Abuja-Kaduna train derailment was not caused by sabotage.
Alkali gave the update during a briefing in Abuja with the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Kayode Opeifa, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tunde Rahman.
He said investigations into the incident are ongoing, adding that the Abuja-Kaduna rail line remains safe for passengers.
“We have fixed the point machine from here up to Kaduna, and since then, there has been no issue of derailment. For this incident, investigations are ongoing, and we don’t want to preempt the committee until it submits its report,” Alkali said.
Opeifa explained that the derailment was caused by an operational error at a junction point and not by sabotage or failure of the track structure. He said all 618 passengers were safely evacuated.
“Twenty passengers sustained minor injuries, and seven were hospitalized but have been discharged. The NRC has covered all medical expenses,” Opeifa stated.
He praised the quick response of first responders, security agencies, and local residents who helped during the rescue. He also confirmed that four out of the ten derailed coaches have been removed and repairs are in progress to restore full services soon.
The NRC boss also apologized to journalists following complaints from the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists that some reporters were harassed while covering the derailment.
“If any journalist or medium felt excluded or not well treated at the accident scene, I take full responsibility and I sincerely apologise. We are committed to transparency and will continue to provide the press with access and information as events unfold,” he said.
Alkali also noted that vandalism of rail facilities remains a challenge. “There are constant arrests of people who vandalize our critical national assets, and they are always taken to the court in the various states, and a lot of them are put to jail. A lot of them are made to pay fines, but the urge to steal them still remains,” he said.
The Minister revealed that the government is working with the Office of the National Security Adviser on a rail protection plan. He added that processes are ongoing to link the Warri-Ajaokuta-Itakpe-Abuja rail corridor to boost train services.
“Government is working on that. Government intends to link Warri-Ajaokuta-Itakpe to Abuja, we are working on the procurement,” he said.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria has recorded 188 train derailments between 2020 and 2025, mostly linked to poor maintenance, vandalism, and ageing infrastructure.
