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Transport minister cites operational fault, not tampering, as cause.
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NRC boss apologises over press access at crash site.
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Passengers safely evacuated; injured treated and discharged.
The Federal Government has dismissed suggestions of sabotage in the recent Abuja–Kaduna train derailment, attributing the accident to an operational mishap rather than foul play.
Minister of Transportation, Saidu Ahmed Alkali, told State House correspondents at the weekend that preliminary checks showed no sign of track tampering, even as investigations continued.
“We have fixed the point machine from here up to Kaduna, and since then, there has been no issue of derailment. For this incident, investigations are ongoing, and we don’t want to preempt the committee until it submits its report,” he said.
A point machine, also known as a switch motor, enables trains to change tracks by securely shifting turnout blades, and officials believe the fault occurred at one such junction.
The minister acknowledged vandalism of railway infrastructure remained a recurring threat, but said there was no evidence of interference on the affected line.
He disclosed that four of the ten derailed coaches had been removed using cranes, with recovery work ongoing.
Alkali added that the government was working with the Office of the National Security Adviser to design a long-term framework to protect rail assets nationwide. He also hinted at procurement plans to extend rail connectivity from Warri to Ajaokuta and Abuja.
Nigerian Railway Corporation managing director, Kayode Opeifa, aligned with the minister’s position, clarifying that initial findings indicated an operational accident at a junction point. “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,” he explained.
Opeifa also issued a public apology after protests by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) over the treatment of a reporter denied access to the crash site.
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“If any journalist or medium felt excluded or not well treated at the accident scene, I take full responsibility and I sincerely apologise,” he said, pledging transparency in future incident responses.
All 618 passengers were successfully evacuated. Twenty sustained minor injuries, while seven were hospitalised but later discharged with their medical costs covered by the NRC.
