NSIB confirms 21 injured, no fatalities in Abuja–Kaduna train derailment
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed that 21 passengers sustained injuries but no lives were lost in the Abuja–Kaduna train derailment of August 26, 2025, at Asham Station.
The incident involved a locomotive with registration CDD5c2 2701, which left Idu Station in Abuja at 9:45 am en route to Rigasa, Kaduna, carrying 618 passengers, including crew, security personnel, and service staff.
“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 Bureau noted that its preliminary findings and recommendations have been published and are now available for download on its 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 stressed that the preliminary report only provides an overview and that ongoing investigations will produce a more comprehensive final report with measures to prevent future accidents.
Earlier, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had attributed the derailment to human error, citing “excessive speeding” and “misapplication of the emergency braking system.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the NRC confirmed that engineers had re-railed and recovered all affected coaches and locomotives, which were moved to designated workshops for further assessment.
“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.
It added that a comprehensive safety and infrastructure review was underway to ensure the corridor met the highest standards before resuming full operations.
“Safety remains our top priority,” the corporation reaffirmed, pledging to restore public confidence in train services.
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