Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has blamed human error, excessive speeding and the misapplication of the emergency braking system for the Abuja–Kaduna train derailment that injured 22 passengers.
In a statement on Monday, Managing Director, Dr Kayode Opeifa confirmed that recovery and repair efforts after the 26 August incident at Asham were complete.
The derailment occurred shortly after the train departed Abuja around 11 a.m., leaving several coaches overturned. Panic spread among passengers, many of whom feared a terrorist attack before learning it was an accident.
Opeifa said an in-house investigation found operator mistakes as the primary cause. “Management has accepted all recommendations of the internal investigation team. While awaiting findings from the Minister of Transportation’s committee and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, we state clearly that human error, excessive speeding and misapplication of the braking system were responsible,” he said.
He added that engineers had repaired the main track, allowing safe resumption of operations, though repairs on the secondary line were ongoing. “The second line will remain closed until all technical work is completed,” Opeifa explained.
According to the NRC, 22 of the 618 passengers sustained injuries and are recovering. The corporation has contacted 512 passengers, with 71 still unreachable.
Opeifa expressed gratitude to passengers, media, and security agencies for their patience and support. He also disclosed that a comprehensive safety and infrastructure assessment was underway to ensure durability and reliability before full-service resumes.
NRC Blames Abuja–Kaduna Derailment on Human Error, Speeding
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