Abuja – Kaduna Train Derails, Injures 6

A devastating train derailment occurred on Tuesday in Jere, along the Abuja-Kaduna corridor, leaving six passengers with varying degrees of injuries. According to Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, spokesperson of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the agency’s team deployed to the scene confirmed that there were no fatalities, initially reporting five injured persons, but later stating that six persons sustained injuries.

The NSIB has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the derailment, collaborating with other relevant bodies to determine the cause of the incident. “Current information available indicates that six persons sustained injuries, and there are no recorded fatalities,” the NSIB stated.

In response to the incident, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended services along the Abuja-Kaduna corridor. This disruption is significant, given that the route is one of the country’s busiest passenger routes.

This recent derailment follows a similar incident earlier in May 2024, when another train derailed at Jere Station along the same corridor. Moreover, just days ago, the NRC confirmed that a Kaduna-bound train experienced a “hot axle” fault near Rigasa Station in Kaduna, disrupting services for some business class passengers.

The Abuja-Kaduna train derailment has raised concerns about the safety and maintenance of Nigeria’s rail infrastructure. Meanwhile, another major line, the Warri-Itakpe corridor, is currently undergoing urgent and critical track repairs following a suspension of services. Although the NRC announced on August 22 that work on the affected sections has reached an advanced stage and operations will soon resume, the incident highlights the broader safety and maintenance challenges confronting Nigeria’s rail network.