Breaking: NRC, Presidency Break Silence as Abuja-Kaduna Train Derails, Video Emerges
- NRC confirmed a Kaduna-bound train derailed at 11:09 a.m. between Kubwa and Asham stations, with emergency teams swiftly deployed
- Presidency said President Tinubu had been briefed and was closely monitoring the incident, stressing passenger safety as top priority
- All passengers were safely evacuated back to Abuja, with security operatives and medical teams on ground to provide assistance
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and the Presidency have confirmed a train derailment on the Abuja-Kaduna route on Monday morning.
Legit.ng earlier reported that a passenger train bound for Kaduna, derailed in Abuja.
Source: Twitter
The cause of the derailment remains unclear as at the time of filling in this report. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the incident that caused chaos and stranded several passengers.
According to security sources, military personnel have been deployed to the site to assist in evacuating stranded passengers.
NRC confirms derailment
In a statement issued by the NRC, the incident occurred at around 11:09 a.m. when a Kaduna-bound AKTS train derailed at Kilometre 49, between Kubwa Station and Asham Station.
The NRC’s Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, explained that emergency teams were quickly deployed to the site.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation confirms a train derailment involving our Kaduna-bound AKTS train service at about 11:09 a.m. at KM 49 between Kubwa Station and Asham Station. Emergency rescue and medical personnel, as well as nearby hospitals, have already been mobilised. The full complement of security is already on ground, and efforts are ongoing to move all passengers on the train back to Abuja safely. Kindly bear with us at this moment,” Opeifa stated.
Presidency reacts to incident
Bayo Onanuga, presidential aide to President Bola Tinubu via X also confirmed the derailment.
They assured passengers and the public that safety remained the federal government’s top priority.
Passengers evacuated safely
According to NRC, all passengers were being evacuated in a controlled and secure manner back to Abuja. Security operatives and medical teams remained at the scene to provide assistance.
The derailment, though raising fresh concerns about railway safety in Nigeria, comes at a time when the Federal Government has been seeking to expand rail services across the country.
Nigerians react as Abuja-Kaduna train derails
lizwillsmart said:
I saw the train few hours ago 😢😢 dear God our going out and coming is in ur hands 🙌🏻 😢🙇♀️🙇♀️ ask_of_chukee We still have a very long way to go. God please help my unborn kids, they won't see this 🙏🏾
itsniimakera said:
The route is arguably one of the busiest in Nigeria but the least maintained. The train derailed but no one talks about the inadequacy of the waiting area, toilets that don’t have running water, non functioning ticket buying app, non functioning escalator, lift.. the list is endless. Considering the amount of revenue generated I dare say we haven’t been getting value for money. The NRC needs to rethink the way they do business.
See the video here:
Tinubu asked to sack Transport minister
Previously, Legit.ng reported that a civil society organisation has accused the minister of transport, Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, of overseeing the unlawful sale of valuable railway assets under the guise of scrap disposal, and petitioned the National Assembly to take urgent action.
In a detailed petition addressed to the Senate and House of Representatives, the Alliance for Public Asset Protection and Accountability (APAPA) alleged that the minister, in collusion with officials of the Railway Property Management Company Limited (RPMCL) and unnamed private consultants, has facilitated secretive sales of functioning railway equipment and infrastructure to foreign buyers, particularly Chinese firms.
Source: Legit.ng
