Several passengers were injured after a train incident occurred near Asham Train Station along the Abuja–Kaduna rail corridor, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed.
In a statement, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the corporation, Kayode Opeifa, said the incident involved a rear locomotive making contact with the passenger coach immediately behind it due to a coupling malfunction.
According to Opeifa, emergency protocols were quickly activated and the injured passengers received immediate medical attention.
“The injured passengers were promptly attended to and transported to nearby medical facilities for proper care,” he said.
“Thankfully, no fatalities were recorded.”
The NRC chief added that technical teams were swiftly deployed to the scene to assess the situation and ensure safety along the rail line.
He also confirmed that officials from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau were present at the site to carry out a detailed investigation in accordance with established safety procedures.
The statement further disclosed that the train later arrived at Idu Train Station about 38 minutes behind schedule after authorities removed the affected locomotive and coach from the track.
The corporation reassured passengers and the general public that safety remains its highest priority.
“All necessary measures are being taken to address the situation and ensure the continued safe operation of train services,” the statement noted.
The NRC also pledged to provide further updates as more information emerges from the ongoing investigation.
The incident comes amid growing concerns about repeated rail disruptions in Nigeria. The country’s rail network, particularly the Abuja–Kaduna corridor, has recorded several derailments in recent years, raising questions about infrastructure maintenance and operational safety.
Last year, the Nigerian Senate launched a nationwide probe into recurring rail failures, resolving to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate the persistent derailments across the country’s rail lines.
The committee, chaired by Adams Oshiomhole, was tasked with examining the root causes of the incidents, assessing the condition of rail infrastructure, and reviewing imported materials used in the sector.
Lawmakers also mandated the NRC to urgently address technical faults responsible for the derailments and restore the country’s rail system to full operational capacity.
