Train Speed Violation Led to Abuja-Kaduna Railway Incident, NRC Chief Confirms
The Nigerian Railway Corporation has attributed the recent train accident on the Abuja-Kaduna route to excessive speed and operational misconduct, classifying it as a “human error” incident.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s “The Morning Brief” on Monday, NRC Managing Director Kayode Opeifa provided details about the August 16, 2025 accident. He explained that the incident occurred when the train operator exceeded the recommended speed limit at a critical junction where trains typically change tracks.
“On the accident, we discovered that there was human error,” Opeifa stated during the interview. “Somebody just went at the wrong speed and bursted the point.” He emphasized that there are established caution orders for such track-switching locations, which were not properly observed in this instance.
When pressed by the interviewer to specify the exact speed limitations for trains at such points, the Managing Director declined to provide specific figures, stating, “I wouldn’t want to go into that.”
In the aftermath of the incident, Opeifa noted that passengers’ primary concern was the swift restoration of services. “After bursting the point, the people started calling us, asking when we would resume operations,” he said, adding that there were expectations for immediate service resumption “the next day.”
The Abuja-Kaduna rail line, which serves as a crucial transportation link between Nigeria’s capital and one of its major northern cities, has become an essential alternative to road travel for many commuters in recent years.
