The House of Representatives has summoned Transport Minister Sa’idu Alkali to appear within 48 hours over the Kaduna-bound train derailment involving 618 passengers.
The House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport has directed the Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, to appear before it within 48 hours following his refusal to attend an investigative hearing into the recent derailment of a Kaduna-bound passenger train.
The train, which was carrying about 618 passengers, derailed in circumstances that have raised serious safety concerns and renewed debates about Nigeria’s rail infrastructure.
The ultimatum came on Tuesday after lawmakers expressed outrage that the Minister, despite the urgency of the matter, failed to attend the session in Abuja.
Members of the committee described his absence as “disrespectful” and “irresponsible,” saying it amounted to turning his back on Nigerians at a time of crisis.
Chairperson of the committee, Hon. Blessing Onuh, condemned the Minister’s absence, stressing that parliament had suspended its recess because of the magnitude of the rail disaster.
She explained that many lawmakers travelled from different parts of the country just to participate in the hearing, only to find that the Minister chose not to attend.
Onuh declared: “There is a saying that a toad does not run in the daytime for nothing. Some of us came all the way from Lagos despite being on break because of how important this matter is.
“But here we are, and the Minister is absent. Nigerians deserve answers.
“This derailment affected our brothers and sisters, and it must be treated with seriousness.
“The meeting is therefore suspended, and the Minister is hereby summoned to appear in person within 48 hours.”
She further noted that the Committee would not allow government officials to trivialise issues concerning human lives and national infrastructure.
Hon. Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesman of the House, went a step further by questioning the competence of the Minister to continue holding office.
He said Alkali’s disregard for the parliament was not only a slight against lawmakers but also an indication of poor leadership and insensitivity to Nigerians’ suffering.
According to him, the House should consider forwarding a report to President Bola Tinubu, in line with the President’s earlier warning that no minister or agency head should ignore parliamentary summons.
Agbese remarked: “The Minister’s action shows he does not care about Nigerians or the reputation of this government.
“He is avoiding accountability because of the inefficiency that has led to this disaster. By refusing to appear, he is stalling our investigation and treating the parliament with disdain.
“This committee should be bold enough to declare him incompetent and recommend to the President that he be relieved of his duties.
“Nigerians cannot continue to suffer from negligence at the highest levels of governance.”
Hon. Cyril Hart, another member of the committee, expressed deep disappointment that Alkali, who once served in the parliament, would choose to dishonour the same institution.
He said the Minister’s background as a lawmaker should have made him more sensitive to the importance of oversight and accountability.
Hart suggested that the derailment may have been linked to poor-quality materials used in rail construction, noting that such negligence could have cost hundreds of lives.
He said: “Over 618 Nigerians narrowly escaped death. This suggests that substandard materials may have been used to construct our rail tracks.
“For a former parliamentarian to ignore the oversight function of this House is shameful. It is nothing short of a betrayal of Nigerians.
“The Nigerian people deserve a Minister who takes his work seriously, not one who dismisses us with arrogance.”
The derailment of the Kaduna-bound train has once again placed Nigeria’s rail transport system under the spotlight.
In recent years, the federal government has invested heavily in rail infrastructure as part of its transportation modernization agenda.
However, recurring safety lapses—including derailments, accidents, and security incidents—have raised concerns about whether these investments are yielding the expected results.
The latest incident has reignited public fears, especially given the tragic memories of the March 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack, where dozens of passengers were killed and many others kidnapped by terrorists. Lawmakers have now vowed not to treat the latest derailment as “business as usual.”
Although the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) was present at the hearing, lawmakers insisted that only the Minister of Transportation could provide the necessary political and administrative accountability.
The Committee therefore adjourned its proceedings until Alkali appears in person within the 48-hour deadline.
Failure to comply, they warned, could prompt the House to escalate the matter directly to President Tinubu, potentially leading to stronger political consequences for the embattled Minister.
