NRC Completes Recovery of Coaches and Locomotives, Track Repair Nears Completion and Safety Assessment Begins Following Asham Incident
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has reported significant progress in recovery, repair, and safety operations following the derailment of the Abuja–Kaduna train on 26 August 2025 at Asham.
The NRC confirmed that its engineering team has successfully re-railed and recovered all coaches and locomotives involved in the incident. These assets have been moved to designated workshops for full assessment and additional technical work.
The main line has been repaired to a standard that allows the safe resumption of operations. While train services are set to recommence, work on the secondary track will continue.
Engineers have begun a comprehensive safety and infrastructure assessment to ensure that all parts of the corridor meet required standards of safety, durability, and reliability before operations resume. This process includes a detailed evaluation of the repaired section and other critical infrastructure.
The NRC stated that train services will only restart after all technical inspections, tests, and certifications have been concluded, reiterating that safety remains its top priority and reaffirming its commitment to restoring public confidence in rail services.
Regarding passenger welfare, the NRC confirmed that of the 618 passengers on board the affected train, 22 sustained injuries and are at various stages of recovery. Contact has been made with 512 passengers, while 71 remain unreachable due to reasons such as non-responsiveness, incorrect contact information, or unavailability.
An internal investigation into the incident has been completed, with management accepting all recommendations made by the investigation team. The NRC indicated that the findings point to human error, specifically excessive speeding and misapplication of the emergency braking system. The Corporation is awaiting the outcome of the committee set up by the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali, as well as the findings of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
READ the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau Preliminary Report here: https://nsib.gov.ng/wp-content...
Operations are set to resume on 1 October 2025.
