The Federal Government has ruled out sabotage in the recent Abuja-Kaduna train derailment, attributing the incident to an operational error.
Minister of Transportation, Saidu Ahmed Alkali, and Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja.
Alkali explained that preliminary investigations suggest the derailment was caused by an operational fault at a junction point, rather than a deliberate act of sabotage.
Accordingtohim, “We have fixed the point machine from here up to Kaduna, and since then, there has been no issue of derailment.
”Investigations are still ongoing, and we don’t want to preempt the committee until it submits its report.
“A point machine, also known as a switch motor, is a device that moves rail turnout blades, allowing trains to change tracks safely and efficiently,” he stated.
The NRC MD confirmed that all 618 passengers on board were safely evacuated, with 20 sustaining minor injuries and seven hospitalised but later discharged.
He added the NRC had borne all medical expenses for the affected passengers.
Opeifa praised the swift response from emergency services, security agencies, and local communities, which saved lives.
”Four out of 10 derailed coaches have been recovered using specialized railway cranes and equipment, ” added.
Alkali acknowledged that vandalism remained a challenge to railway safety, despite ongoing arrests and prosecutions.
He assured that the government was working on a comprehensive plan to safeguard railway assets nationwide.
The Minister revealed that procurement was underway to extend the rail line from Warri to Ajaokuta and eventually to Abuja.
Opeifa assured that efforts are ongoing to restore full train services, prioritizing passenger safety and service reliability.
He apologised to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) over an altercation involving Ladi Bala, former National Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), during media coverage of the derailment.
“If any journalist or medium felt excluded or not well treated at the accident scene, I take full responsibility and sincerely apologize,” he said.
