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The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has issued five urgent safety recommendations to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) following the derailment of Abuja–Kaduna passenger train AK1. The incident, which occurred at Asham Station in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State on August 26, 2025, injured 21 passengers and damaged both rolling stock and infrastructure.
The Bureau said its preliminary findings identified serious lapses in track maintenance, staff training, and equipment reliability. These failures, it warned, contributed to the derailment and must be addressed immediately to restore public confidence in rail travel hence the issuance of the urgent safety recommendations to be implemented.
According to NSIB, one of the critical safety recommendations is the replacement of all damaged sleepers along the route. Investigators noted that patched sleepers still remained from a previous derailment at Asham Station in 2024, creating weak points.
In other Safety Recommendations, the Bureau also directed NRC to replace all point switches with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts rather than relying on improvised repairs.
Further measures include addressing all track sections where cautionary advisories are routinely issued to drivers. Investigators described these areas as vulnerable and dangerous if not properly rehabilitated. The Bureau additionally recommended refresher training for drivers, guards, and shunters to strengthen operational competence beyond initial certification.
Defective equipment such as CCTV cameras, communication systems, and station clocks was part of safety recommendations that must also be restored to working condition, as they are vital for safety monitoring and coordination.
NSIB underscored that the Asham derailment was the second at the same station in 13 months, pointing to unresolved systemic risks. Director General of NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh jr., explained that recurrence indicated that corrective actions from the previous incident were inadequate. “Our mandate is not to assign blame but to close safety gaps. These safety recommendations must be acted upon without delay,” he said.
The derailment happened at about 11:09 am as the train approached Asham Station. The service had departed Abuja’s Idu Station at 9:45 am, stopped briefly at Kubwa, and was cleared to proceed through Line One by the shunter. The driver reduced speed to 40 kilometres per hour, but vibrations and noise preceded the derailment.
The forward locomotive and two coaches overturned, while five more coaches left the track but remained upright. Only the last coach and the rear locomotive stayed on the rails. Emergency responders, including NRC teams, military personnel, onboard security, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and medical staff, evacuated passengers from the site. Though 21 people were injured, no lives were lost.
Infrastructure damage was extensive. Over 300 concrete sleepers and 1,200 fasteners on Line One were destroyed, while Line Two sustained damage to 140 sleepers and 560 fasteners. The switch and turnout mechanism, including the point clip, was broken. Two signal lights were damaged, and several coaches suffered serious mechanical impairment, including battery boxes, couplers, and traction motor covers.
Investigators confirmed that all drivers held valid certificates. However, Asham Station’s automatic switch mechanism was unserviceable, forcing reliance on manual switching. The point clip used was broken at the time of the derailment, further undermining safety.
NSIB’s report highlighted that while NRC staff received initial training, no refresher courses had been conducted, leaving skill gaps. It also found that spare parts and critical equipment were not readily available, and monitoring systems such as CCTV cameras remained non-functional.
The Bureau said its next phase will include technical inspections of the turnout and switch, a review of track alignment, and examinations of the locomotives and derailed coaches. Investigators will also analyse crew statements, speed logs, signal records, and eyewitness accounts to determine the precise chain of events.
The Abuja–Kaduna railway, inaugurated in 2016, is Nigeria’s flagship standard gauge line. It has become vital for connecting the federal capital with Kaduna, especially during periods of insecurity on the parallel highway. The derailment, however, raises fresh concerns about safety and reliability on this critical route.
NSIB stressed that full implementation of its safety recommendations will be essential to restore public trust. The Bureau said its final report will be issued after completing all stages of the investigation. Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the NRC to demonstrate accountability by swiftly acting on the preliminary measures and enforce the safety recommendations.
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