Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, has dismissed speculations of sabotage in the recent Abuja-Kaduna train derailment, assuring Nigerians that the Federal Government remains firmly committed to the safety and security of rail operations nationwide.
Speaking to State House correspondents in Abuja alongside the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Kayode Opeifa, Alkali said preliminary investigations pointed to an operational error rather than a deliberate act.
“We have fixed the point machine from here up to Kaduna, and since then, there has been no issue of derailment. Investigations are still ongoing, and we don’t want to preempt the committee until it submits its report,” the minister said.
Alkali explained that the point machine—a device that moves rail turnout blades to allow trains switch tracks safely—had been restored along the corridor. He, however, admitted that vandalism remained a serious challenge, despite continued arrests and prosecutions of offenders.
He revealed that four out of ten derailed coaches had already been recovered with specialised railway cranes and equipment. In addition, he disclosed that procurement was underway to extend the rail line from Warri to Ajaokuta and ultimately to Abuja.
On his part, NRC Managing Director, Opeifa, apologised to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) following a reported altercation involving the immediate past National Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ladi Bala, during coverage of the derailment.
“If any journalist or medium felt excluded or not well treated at the accident scene, I take full responsibility and sincerely apologise. We are committed to transparency and will continue to provide the press with access and information as events unfold,” he said.
Corroborating the minister’s stance, Opeifa stressed that technical findings ruled out 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.
He confirmed that all 618 passengers on board the train were safely evacuated without loss of life or serious injuries, assuring that restoration efforts were ongoing to ensure reliable services.
“Passenger safety and service reliability remain our top priorities,” Opeifa concluded.