The Nigerian Railway Corporation has confirmed that several passengers sustained injuries following a train incident near Asham Train Station on Monday morning.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the corporation, Kayode Opeifa, disclosed this in a statement, explaining that the incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m.
According to him, the situation involved a rear locomotive that made contact with the passenger coach directly behind it as a result of a coupling problem.
Opeifa said the injured passengers were immediately attended to and taken to nearby medical facilities for treatment, adding that no fatalities were recorded.
He further revealed that emergency response procedures were quickly activated while technical teams were dispatched to the location to manage the situation.
The NRC chief also confirmed that officials of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau were present at the site to carry out a detailed investigation into the incident in accordance with established safety protocols.
The statement added that the train eventually reached Idu Train Station at about 10:39 a.m., arriving 38 minutes behind schedule after time was taken to detach the affected locomotive and coach.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation assured the public that passenger safety remains its highest priority and said steps are being taken to address the technical issues while ensuring the continued safe operation of train services.
The corporation added that further updates would be provided as more details emerge.
Nigeria’s rail system has experienced a number of derailments in recent years, particularly along the Abuja–Kaduna corridor, prompting the Nigerian Senate to launch a nationwide probe into recurring rail failures in 2025.
In November 2025, the Senate resolved to establish an ad hoc committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the persistent derailments affecting the country’s railway network.
The probe, which will include a public hearing, is aimed at identifying the root causes of the repeated incidents and evaluating the condition of rail infrastructure, including the quality of imported materials used in the sector.
According to the resolution, the ad hoc committee will be chaired by Adams Oshiomhole and will also examine loans obtained from China for railway development.
The committee was given six weeks to complete its investigation and submit a detailed report to the Senate.
Lawmakers also directed the Nigerian Railway Corporation to urgently address the technical faults responsible for the recent derailments and ensure that the country’s rail transport system returns to full operational efficiency.
What you should know
The Abuja–Kaduna rail corridor is one of Nigeria’s busiest and most strategic railway routes, connecting the nation’s capital with Kaduna State.
Although the line has improved travel time and security compared to road transport, it has also faced operational challenges including technical faults and derailments.
Government investigations and safety reviews are ongoing to strengthen the reliability and safety of Nigeria’s railway infrastructure.
