Human Error, Excessive Speed Cause of Abuja-Kaduna Train Accident, Explains NRC Boss
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria, has attributed the recent Abuja–Kaduna train accident to human error and excessive speed, ruling out sabotage in the incident that disrupted operations along the busy corridor.
Okhiria, while addressing journalists after an internal investigation by the corporation, said findings revealed that the train driver exceeded the approved speed limit, a factor that directly led to the derailment. He explained that the misuse of the emergency braking system also worsened the situation.
“Our investigation shows that the driver operated above the prescribed speed limit and did not apply the emergency brakes correctly when the situation demanded,” Okhiria said. “We can categorically state that there was no sabotage involved it was purely operational human error.”
The NRC boss added that the affected locomotive and coaches have been re-railed and moved for technical evaluation, while repairs on the damaged section of the track have reached an advanced stage. He assured passengers that safety audits are ongoing before full resumption of service on the route.
Meanwhile, a separate investigation by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) identified a malfunctioned switch mechanism at Asham Station as a contributing factor to the derailment. The agency’s preliminary report indicated that the switch motor and point clip were defective, leading to poor track alignment.
The NSIB also highlighted gaps in staff retraining, maintenance practices, and access to critical spare parts and monitoring equipment such as CCTV cameras and control instruments.
The Abuja–Kaduna railway line, one of Nigeria’s busiest intercity train routes, has experienced several interruptions in recent years due to technical faults and security-related incidents. Authorities say lessons from this latest accident will help strengthen safety protocols across all NRC operations.
