Temitope Mustapha, Abuja
Minister of Transportation, Saidu Ahmed Alkali and Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Managing Director Mr. Kayode Opeifa have both reaffirmed the safety of Nigeria’s railway services nationwide, rejecting sabotage claims on last week’s Abuja–Kaduna train derailment.
Speaking to State House correspondents over the weekend, the Minister confirmed that investigations into the incident are ongoing but revealed that preliminary findings indicate an operational mishap rather than sabotage.
Alkali further said that the Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser, is developing a comprehensive strategy to protect railway assets nationwide.
“We have fixed the point machine from here up to Kaduna, and since then, there has been no issue of derailment. For this incident, investigations are ongoing, and we don’t want to preempt the committee until it submits its report,” Alkali said.
A point machine, also known as a switch motor, enables trains to change tracks by securely shifting the blades of a railway turnout.
He said that four out of the ten coaches that capsized during the Abuja–Kaduna mishap, had been successfully removed using specialised rail cranes.
Alkali also hinted at ongoing procurement processes to extend rail connectivity from Warri to Ajaokuta and Abuja.
On the treatment melted on the journalists reporting the derailment, NRC Managing Director Kayode Opeifa tendered an unreserved apology, particularly to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) reporter who was denied access at the accident site.
The NRC MD issued an apology in response to a protest letter from the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), which denounced the harassment of its immediate past national chairperson, Comrade Ladi Bala.
“If any journalist or medium felt excluded or not well treated at the accident scene, I take full responsibility and I sincerely apologise. We are committed to transparency and will continue to provide the press with access and information as events unfold,” Opeifa said.
Regarding the cause of the accident, Opeifa also dismissed any claims of sabotage.
“Nationwide, rail tracks are constantly targeted by vandals and scrap syndicates. But with specific reference to this incident, the track showed no signs of sabotage or structural failure. Our initial findings indicate it was an operational accident at a junction point,” he explained.
The NRC chief reported that all 618 passengers on board were successfully evacuated.
Lateefah Ibrahim