The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has revealed that human error, overspeeding, and improper use of the emergency brakes were responsible for the recent derailment of an Abuja–Kaduna passenger train.
The accident, which happened on August 26, 2025, injured 22 passengers and raised fresh concerns about safety along the busy route.
In a statement on Monday, NRC Managing Director Dr. Kayode Opeifa announced that recovery efforts had been completed. He confirmed that all derailed locomotives and carriages were put back on track and moved to workshops for further checks and repairs.
“Our engineers have repaired the main track to a level that guarantees safe operations. While train services will resume shortly, repair works on the secondary line are still ongoing and will continue until they are fully completed,” Opeifa said.
The derailment occurred shortly after the train departed Abuja at about 11 a.m., en route to Kaduna. Several coaches toppled, leaving passengers scrambling to escape, with many initially suspecting an attack before realizing it was an accident.
The NRC immediately set up an internal panel to investigate the incident, and management has since adopted its findings. According to Opeifa, “Our investigation established that human error, excessive speeding, and the misapplication of the emergency braking system were the primary causes of the derailment.”
