The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) on Wednesday released its preliminary findings on the Abuja–Kaduna train derailment that occurred on August 26, 2025, at Asham Station, confirming that 21 passengers sustained injuries but no fatalities were recorded.
The incident involved a locomotive with registration number CDD5c2 2701, which departed Idu Station in Abuja at 9:45 a.m. en route to Rigasa, Kaduna. Onboard were 618 people, including Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) crew, security personnel, and service staff.
“At approximately 11:09 hours, shortly after passing a manually operated switch point at Asham Station, the forward locomotive and adjoining coaches derailed and overturned. Twenty-one passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries, while no fatalities were recorded,” the NSIB said.
The Bureau noted that its preliminary report—containing initial findings and safety recommendations—has been published on its official website. It stressed that the final report will present detailed conclusions and additional recommendations aimed at strengthening rail safety in Nigeria.
NRC blames human error
In its own preliminary statement, the NRC attributed the derailment to human error, citing “excessive speeding” and “misapplication of the emergency braking system.”
The corporation confirmed that its engineers had successfully re-railed and recovered all affected coaches and locomotives, which were transferred to workshops for further assessment.
“Our team of engineers has successfully repaired the main line to a level that allows us to safely resume operations. While train services will recommence, work on the secondary track will continue simultaneously,” the NRC stated.
The corporation added that a comprehensive safety and infrastructure assessment was ongoing to ensure the corridor meets durability and reliability standards before full services resume.
Ongoing investigation
The NSIB emphasised that while the preliminary findings provide an overview of the accident, further investigations are underway. The agency said the final report would outline more comprehensive safety measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
