Abuja, Nigeria | September 24, 2025
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has attributed last month’s derailment of the Abuja–Kaduna passenger train to poor maintenance practices, faulty infrastructure, and lapses in safety management.
Presenting its preliminary findings on the August 26 incident at Asham Station, the bureau reported that the train, designated AK1, derailed after passing a manually operated switch point that had earlier been declared unserviceable.
Investigators also identified broken point clips, damaged sleepers from a previous derailment that were patched instead of replaced, and defective monitoring and communication equipment.
The train, operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation, was carrying more than 580 passengers at the time.
While no lives were lost, several people sustained injuries, and rail operations on the corridor were temporarily suspended.
NSIB recommended urgent replacement of compromised track components, installation of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standard switches, restoration of faulty monitoring systems, and refresher training for railway personnel.
The bureau stressed that its findings are preliminary, with a full report to follow after further analysis.
