Several passengers injured in Abuja-Kaduna train accident

Several passengers sustained injuries on Monday after a train operating on the Abuja–Kaduna rail line was involved in an incident near Asham Train Station.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Kayode Opeifa, confirmed the development in a statement, saying the incident occurred around 10:30 a.m.

According to him, the situation arose when a rear locomotive made contact with the passenger coach directly behind it due to a coupling fault.

Opeifa said the injured passengers were quickly attended to and taken to nearby medical facilities for treatment, adding that no lives were lost.

Emergency response procedures were immediately activated, while technical teams were deployed to the scene to assess the situation.

He also disclosed that officials of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau are currently investigating the incident in line with established safety protocols.

The train later continued its journey and arrived at Idu Station at about 10:39 a.m., roughly 38 minutes behind schedule, after the affected locomotive and coach were removed.

The corporation reassured the public that passenger safety remains its top priority and that steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence.

The incident comes amid growing concerns over repeated rail problems in the country. In 2025, the Nigerian Senate launched a nationwide probe into persistent derailments across Nigeria’s rail network.

Lawmakers set up an ad hoc committee chaired by Adams Oshiomhole to investigate the causes of the failures, assess the condition of rail infrastructure, and examine loans obtained from China for railway development.

The committee was given six weeks to complete its investigation and present a report to the Senate, while the Nigerian Railway Corporation was directed to urgently address technical issues affecting the rail system.