Excessive speeding, human error, and misapplication of emergency braking system were the major causes of the derailment of the Abuja-Kaduna train, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has revealed.
The accident happened on August 26, 2025, leaving 22 passengers wounded.
This was revealed by the NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, in a statement issued on Monday.
He said the revelation is following the conclusion of an internal investigation into the derailment that occurred near Asham.
The accident saw several coaches of the Kaduna-bound passenger train overturn, causing panic among the 618 passengers onboard.
Dr. Opeifa said the derailment was not linked to sabotage but rather operational lapses.
“Our in-house investigation revealed that the train was traveling at excessive speed, and the operator misapplied the emergency braking system. Management has accepted all recommendations of the investigative team and corrective measures are being implemented immediately,” he said.
The NRC chief said while the corporation awaits the outcome of the Ministerial Committee and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau’s (NSIB) official findings, the corporation is already taking decisive steps to prevent a repeat.
He said all derailed coaches and the locomotive have been successfully re-railed and towed to designated workshops for further technical evaluation.
Mr Opeifa said repair work on the mainline has been completed, allowing for the safe resumption of train services in the coming days, while repairs on the secondary line remain ongoing.
“Our engineers have restored the main track to a safe operational level. Train services will recommence soon, though work on the second line will continue until full rehabilitation is achieved,” he said.
