The Federal Government says the Abuja–Kaduna rail line will be restored within 10 days after a derailment left 7 injured and 150m of track damaged.
The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that the Abuja–Kaduna railway line, which was disrupted last week following a train derailment, will be fully restored to normal service within the next ten days.
This assurance was given by the Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, during an inspection visit to the site of the accident on Monday.
The minister, accompanied by top officials from the Ministry of Transportation, engineers, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), civil society representatives, and the accident investigation committee, said government agencies and partners are working around the clock to ensure a quick recovery of the damaged rail corridor.
The derailment, which occurred last Tuesday at Asham Station on the Abuja–Kaduna route, involved a Kaduna-bound passenger train carrying 618 people.
According to NRC records, the passengers comprised 583 commuters, 15 NRC crew members, one medical staff, eight cleaners, and 11 catering personnel.
Although no fatalities were recorded, seven passengers sustained injuries of varying severity and were promptly attended to by emergency responders.
The accident also damaged some coaches and sections of the track, forcing a temporary suspension of service on the corridor.
Speaking at the scene, Senator Alkali commended the NRC staff, security agencies, engineers, and other stakeholders for their rapid intervention in rescuing passengers and securing rail assets.
He particularly highlighted the resilience of NRC staff, whom he said had been working day and night to clear debris and begin repairs on the affected stretch of track.
“At the time of the incident, the locomotive was pulling eight coaches. Four of those have already been moved from the site.
“We are now mobilising a bigger crane to lift the remaining coaches and the locomotive.
“Insha Allah, within the next 48 hours, all will be cleared. If weather conditions remain favourable, within ten days we will restore the line and resume full operations,” the minister assured.
He explained that only about 150 metres of rail track were affected, describing the damage as “not too extensive” and easily manageable with the resources already deployed.
Alkali expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he credited with providing immediate support to the ministry and the NRC after the accident.
He also praised the NRC Managing Director and his team for their visible commitment on-site, as well as the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for their technical assistance since the derailment occurred.
“I must commend the MD of CCECC and his team. They have been very supportive of the Ministry of Transportation and the NRC throughout this period. Their expertise is invaluable in restoring operations quickly,” he said.
On the possible cause of the derailment, the minister refrained from drawing conclusions, stressing that an official investigation was ongoing.
He explained that the accident occurred at a rail interchange point where two trains normally cross, but said it was premature to speculate.
“We must wait for the outcome of the investigation before assigning causes. The committee, engineers, and civil society groups are already working to establish what went wrong.
“Their findings will help us design preventive measures so that such an incident does not reoccur,” Alkali explained.
The Abuja–Kaduna railway, commissioned in 2016, has become one of Nigeria’s busiest passenger train services, carrying thousands weekly between the Federal Capital Territory and Kaduna.
However, it has also faced serious safety challenges, including the March 2022 terrorist attack that left passengers dead, injured, and kidnapped.
In view of these incidents, Senator Alkali reassured Nigerians that passenger safety remains the top priority of the federal government.
He noted that preventive strategies would be strengthened after the investigation report is concluded.
“It is the duty of government to safeguard lives and property. We are committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of Nigerians who rely on this vital transport service.
“Once we have the investigation findings, new measures will be introduced to ensure this does not happen again,” he pledged.
For now, focus remains on completing the clearing of wreckage and restoring the line for public use.
The minister’s promise of a ten-day recovery timeline has raised hopes that one of Nigeria’s most strategic rail routes will soon return to service, easing the pressure on road travel between Abuja and Kaduna.
As repair works continue, both commuters and stakeholders await the outcome of the official investigation, which is expected to provide clarity on the derailment’s cause and guide future safety improvements across the nation’s growing railway network.