The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that the Abuja–Kaduna train service will resume operations within the next 10 days, following the derailment that occurred on August 26 near Asham Station in Kaduna State.
Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, gave the assurance on Monday after inspecting the accident site, where clearing and repair works are ongoing.
Alkali commended stakeholders, including the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and other agencies, for their swift response and tireless efforts to restore normalcy.
“Let me begin by thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support since the incident occurred. He immediately directed that we move the locomotive, clear the coaches, and fix the rail line so that service can resume without delay,” the minister said.
Progress of Repairs
The minister disclosed that NRC staff had been working round the clock to clear the site and repair the damaged section of track. According to him, the affected area covers about 150 meters of rail line.
“As you can see, four coaches have already been moved, and efforts are ongoing to deploy a bigger crane to remove the remaining locomotives and coaches. In the next 48 hours, we hope to clear the site completely. With good weather, we expect the line to be fully restored within 10 days,” he explained.
Alkali further noted that the derailment occurred at a crossing point where two rail lines meet, but stressed that investigations were still ongoing to determine the exact cause.
Ongoing Investigation
The minister said the investigation team comprised officials of the Ministry of Transportation, NRC engineers, representatives of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), civil society groups, and other stakeholders.
“I don’t want to pre-empt the investigation, but we are committed to ensuring that a thorough inquiry is conducted. Everyone is on ground—the Railway Directorate, engineers, contractors, and civil rights organisations—to make sure justice is done to the process,” he stated.
Commitment to Citizens’ Welfare
Reiterating the government’s responsibility to protect citizens’ welfare, Alkali assured Nigerians that passenger safety remains paramount.
“Restoring this service is a top priority. It is a cardinal duty of government to ensure the comfort and safety of its people. With the level of commitment shown so far, I am confident that in the next 10 days, the Abuja–Kaduna train will be back on track,” he said.
