The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) announced on Tuesday that an investigation into the derailment of the Abuja–Kaduna train has begun, with oversight from the relevant authorities and the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
In an update, NRC Managing Director Dr. Kayode Opeifa confirmed that the incident occurred near Asham in Kaduna State, located in the northwest of Nigeria. The accident involved the Kaduna-bound Abuja–Kaduna service.
SITUATION UPDATE FOLLOWING RESCUE AND EVACUATION AT ACCIDENT SITE pic.twitter.com/o1JA7wC2CT
— NIGERIAN RAILWAY CORPORATION (@info_NRC) August 26, 2025
Dr. Opeifa stated that 618 individuals were safely evacuated, including 583 passengers, 15 NRC crew members, one medical personnel, eight cleaners, and 11 catering staff. He also noted that seven passengers sustained injuries of varying degrees and were transported by ambulance to nearby hospitals for treatment.
“The remaining passengers were safely taken back to Idu and Kubwa stations aboard a rescue train dispatched from Idu. All have since safely returned to their destinations,” he added.
As part of the NRC’s commitment to passenger welfare, Dr. Opeifa confirmed that the third-party ticketing company responsible for the service has been instructed to issue immediate refunds to all passengers on board the affected train.
In light of the incident, all Abuja-Kaduna train services (AKTS) have been temporarily suspended until the site has been cleared and an official announcement regarding the resumption of services is made.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has also launched its own investigation into the derailment.
The NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, issued a statement confirming that a “go-team” has been deployed to the site to gather evidence, engage stakeholders, and begin the investigation into the cause of the accident. The Bureau expressed sympathy for those injured and extended its support to all affected passengers.
The NSIB stated that its investigation will focus on identifying both the direct and underlying causes of the derailment and will issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
Commenting on the investigation, the Director-General of NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr, expressed his condolences to those injured. “We deeply sympathise with all who sustained injuries. The Bureau has deployed investigators to the site to ensure the root cause of this derailment is uncovered,” he said.
“Our commitment is to ensure safer rail transport for Nigerians through a transparent and independent investigation. The NSIB will provide updates as the investigation progresses,” Captain Badeh emphasised.
