The Nigerian Railway Corporation has revised its initial report on the Abuja-Kaduna train derailment, which occurred last Tuesday between Kubwa and Asham stations. Contrary to its earlier claim of seven injuries, the NRC now confirms that 20 passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries in the incident.
However, NRC’s Managing Director, Dr Kayode Opeifa, stated that efforts to recover the derailed train have seen significant progress. He noted that as of September 2, engineers successfully retrieved a locomotive and four coaches, which have been transferred to Idu Station for technical assessment using a newly constructed 100-meter bypass track.
Recovery operations are ongoing, with site preparations underway for the extraction of the remaining locomotive and four coaches, according to the corporation.
The NRC has set up an Incident Desk to assist affected passengers and their families. So far, 510 out of 583 passengers listed on the manifest have been successfully contacted. Dedicated phone lines have been made available to the public for inquiries and updates, including Queen: 07036452228; Lilian: 07031993211; and Abubakar: 08036593212
Despite the setback, the NRC has assured the public that it is working tirelessly to restore full train operations and reinforce safety measures. “Passenger safety and service reliability remain the corporation’s topmost priorities,” the statement added. “The NRC wishes to reassure its esteemed passengers and the general public that every necessary measure is being taken to restore full train operations in the shortest possible time.”
Opeifa expressed appreciation for the swift response of security agencies and thanked the media for their role in providing timely and accurate coverage. He also acknowledged the Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Alkali, who visited the site and lauded the ongoing recovery efforts.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
