The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) says its preliminary investigation into the Abuja–Kaduna train derailment at Asham Station has revealed that poor maintenance practices and a faulty track switch were central causes of the accident.
The incident, which occurred on August 26, 2025, left 21 passengers injured but no fatalities among the 618 people on board. It is the second derailment at the same station in just over a year.
According to the NSIB report, several sleepers damaged in a previous incident at the station had been patched instead of properly repaired.
Investigators also discovered that the automatic switch mechanism at the station’s crossing point was unserviceable at the time of the accident. Instead, the switch was manually secured using a point clip, which was later found to be broken. This failure, the bureau said, compromised track alignment and directly contributed to the derailment.
The NSIB also flagged gaps in staff training, noting that personnel of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had received only initial training with no formal refresher courses. It added that critical operational and maintenance tools, including OEM spare parts, were largely unavailable when needed.
In its interim recommendations, the NSIB urged the NRC to:
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Replace all compromised sleepers across the Abuja–Kaduna corridor.
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Install OEM-standard point switches and restore defective monitoring equipment.
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Provide regular refresher training for railway personnel.
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Restore defective communication systems, CCTV cameras, clocks, and other critical instruments to OEM standards.
“These measures are vital for effective monitoring, safety, and operational efficiency,” the bureau stressed.
The NSIB said its ongoing investigation will include:
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Technical inspection of the turnout and switch mechanism at Asham Station.
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Examination of track alignment, locomotives, brakes, wheels, and bogies of the derailed coaches.
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Analysis of speed logs, signal records, and crew communications.
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Collection of passenger and eyewitness accounts.
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Forensic analysis of the broken point clip, believed to be a key factor.
A final report is expected to provide comprehensive conclusions and possibly additional safety recommendations.
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