The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced an inquiry into the Abuja train derailment, confirming that 12 passengers sustained injuries out of the 583 people on board.
Speaking on Tuesday, the Director General of NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh, provided updates on the incident. He revealed that an Investigator-in-Charge (IIC) has been appointed to lead the probe in collaboration with stakeholders, including the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
Badeh explained that investigators had already secured the site and preserved vital evidence, such as CCTV footage and other materials, to help establish the cause of the derailment.
He further appealed for more government support, stating, “I appeal to the Federal Government and other stakeholders to address funding shortfalls in order to enhance the bureau’s capacity for thorough investigations and safeguard the lives of Nigerians.”
The NSIB confirmed that its final report will be released within 30 days of the incident — now 23 days away — and will be shared with the NRC, regulatory authorities, and the public.
The derailment happened last Tuesday along the Kaduna corridor shortly after the train departed Abuja around 11 a.m. on its way to Kaduna. A passenger described the aftermath as “chaotic,” with many scrambling for safety.
Following the incident, the NRC suspended operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route until further notice. NRC officials, alongside NSIB and other relevant agencies, have since been deployed to the site to conduct investigations.
Addressing reporters in Abuja shortly after the derailment, NRC Managing Director Opeifa dismissed concerns about the trains’ condition and assured passengers that refunds were already being processed. He said: “I take responsibility for Abuja-Kaduna train derailment.”
