The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced that the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train service will resume operations next week, following the successful completion of repairs and safety checks on the damaged track at Asham.

Naijaonpoint reports that the development was confirmed in a statement issued on Saturday by NRC’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu.

While confirming that operations will restart soon, the NRC said details of the exact resumption date and revised schedule would be communicated in the coming days.

It explained that the service, suspended after a derailment on August 26, 2025, had undergone extensive restoration to meet global safety standards.

NRC Refunded 512 Passengers

The corporation also disclosed that it had refunded 512 out of 583 passengers who were on board the derailed train, with efforts ongoing to reach the remaining passengers.

“The NRC appreciates the patience and understanding of our esteemed passengers and assures the general public that their safety, comfort, and satisfaction remain our top priority,” the statement read.

The corporation further commended the Federal Ministry of Transportation, security agencies, the media, and other stakeholders for their support during the recovery period.

Naijaonpoint recalls that the train had derailed shortly after leaving Abuja around 11 am en route to Kaduna, sparking panic among passengers.

One passenger described the incident as “chaotic,” with travellers scrambling for safety.

Following the derailment, the NRC immediately suspended operations on the busy corridor until further notice.

During an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on August 27, NRC Managing Director Kayode Opeifa accepted full responsibility for the accident.

He confirmed that four passengers sustained serious injuries and assured that corrective measures would be taken to prevent a repeat.

On September 24, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) released preliminary findings on the incident.

The report blamed the derailment on poor maintenance and a faulty track switch.

It revealed that several sleepers damaged in a previous incident had been patched rather than properly replaced, while the automatic switch mechanism at the crossing point was unserviceable.

The switch had been manually operated and secured with a point clip, which investigators later discovered was broken, compromising track integrity and causing the derailment.

The NSIB also highlighted deeper systemic issues in the NRC, including:

Personnel are only receiving initial training with no formal refresher courses.
Lack of access to critical maintenance tools and spare parts from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

The derailment was the second at the same station within 13 months. The bureau emphasised that urgent reforms are necessary to enhance safety standards and preparedness.