NRC nears completion of repairs after Asham Train derailmen

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced significant progress in recovery and repair works following the derailment of the Abuja–Kaduna train at Asham on August 26, 2025.

In a statement signed by its Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, the Corporation confirmed that all coaches and locomotives involved in the incident have been successfully re-railed and moved to designated workshops for technical assessment.

According to the NRC, the main rail line has been repaired to a safe level for the resumption of services, while work on the secondary track is still ongoing.

“Safety remains our top priority,” the statement stressed, adding that a comprehensive safety and infrastructure assessment is underway before train operations can resume.

The Corporation disclosed that of the 618 passengers on board the affected train, 22 sustained injuries and are in different stages of recovery. So far, 512 passengers have been contacted, while efforts to reach 71 others are still ongoing due to wrong contacts or unavailability.

An internal investigation carried out by the NRC pointed to human error, citing excessive speeding and the misapplication of the emergency braking system.

The findings have been accepted by management, even as the Corporation awaits the outcome of the probe by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the ministerial committee set up by the Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali.

The NRC expressed appreciation to passengers, the public, media organizations, and security agencies for their patience, support, and assistance during the recovery period.

It also commended the professionalism of its engineering and technical teams who managed the recovery and repair operations.

An official announcement on the date for the resumption of train services on the Abuja–Kaduna corridor is expected soon.