The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) released preliminary findings on Wednesday about the Abuja-Kaduna train crash at Asham Station on August 26, 2025, noting that 21 passengers were injured but no lives were lost.
The train, a locomotive with registration CDD5c2 2701, left Idu Station in Abuja at 9:45 a.m. for Rigasa, Kaduna, carrying 618 passengers, including Nigerian Railway Corporation crew, security personnel, and service professionals.
“At approximately 11:09 h, shortly after passing a manually operated switch point at Asham Station, the forward locomotive and adjoining coaches derailed and overturned. Twenty-one passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries, while no fatalities were recorded,” the NSIB stated.
The agency verified that the first findings and suggestions have been published in its preliminary report, which is currently available for download on the NSIB website.
“Initial findings and recommendations are contained in the preliminary report, which is available for download on the NSIB website. The report represents early findings and is subject to further analysis. The final report will present detailed conclusions and additional recommendations to enhance rail safety in Nigeria,” the Bureau said.
The NSIB stated that, while the preliminary report offers an overview of the incident, ongoing investigations will inform the final paper, which will include more thorough safety recommendations aimed at preventing similar mishaps in the future.
On August 26, 2025, an Abuja-Kaduna train registered as AK1 derailed at Asham station, carrying eight coaches and two locomotives.
In its first results, internal investigation, and public pronouncements, the NRC ascribed the derailment primarily to human error, notably “excessive speeding” and “misapplication of the emergency braking system.”
In a statement made on Tuesday, the corporation stated that its engineers had re-railed and retrieved all carriages and locomotives involved in the incident.
The assets were then sent to designated workshops for inspection and additional technical maintenance.
“Our team of engineers has successfully repaired the main line to a level that allows us to safely resume operations. While train services will recommence, work on the secondary track will continue simultaneously. During this period, the second line will remain out of use until all necessary repairs are fully completed,” the NRC stated.
According to the statement, engineers had begun a complete safety and infrastructure examination to verify that the corridor met the highest levels of durability and reliability before services restarted.
This step, it continued, comprised a detailed assessment of the restored portion and other essential infrastructure along the route.
The NRC stressed in its statement that services would not resume until all safety measures were completed.
“Safety remains our top priority,” the corporation had stated, reaffirming its determination to restore public confidence in rail services.
