Atiku demands probe into Abuja–Kaduna train mishap, says safety must be prioritised

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has asked the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to investigate the derailment of the Abuja–Kaduna train.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was reacting to the incident that occurred on Tuesday.

The NRC had earlier said the train was conveying 618 persons, including 583 passengers and 15 NRC crew members.

The NSIB also confirmed that at least 14 people sustained injuries but no fatality was recorded.

On Wednesday, Kayode Opeifa, managing director (MD) of the NRC, said he takes full responsibility for the incident.

Opeifa said the NSIB has taken over the probe to determine the cause of the derailment, whether “human, track, electromechanical, or other factors”.

Weighing in on Thursday through a post on his X handle, Abubakar called for urgent safety reforms and sympathised with those affected.

“I am deeply concerned about the derailment of the Abuja–Kaduna train on Tuesday, which resulted in injuries to at least 14 passengers,” he wrote.

“It is a relief that there were no fatalities, but this incident underscores the urgent need for action.

“I demand an immediate and thorough investigation by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

“We need transparent updates and a commitment to strengthening safety protocols that will restore public confidence in our rail infrastructure system.”

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, had also called for the restoration of public confidence in Nigeria’s transport infrastructure.