Opeifa accepts responsibility for Abuja-Kaduna train derailment, assures Nigerians of safety reforms

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, has taken full responsibility for the derailment of the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train which occurred on Tuesday along the Kaduna corridor.

Opeifa made the disclosure on Wednesday while speaking during an interview on The Morning Brief, a breakfast programme on Channels Television.

The NRC boss, who tendered an unreserved apology to Nigerians over the unfortunate incident, stressed that as Chief Executive of the corporation, it was his duty to take responsibility whenever safety is compromised.

“Let me say, beyond apologising to Nigeria, I want to say as the Managing Director and Chief Executive, I take full responsibility. And in the case of safety, there is no indifference. Once it happens, the Chief Executive must take responsibility. In this case, I am taking responsibility,” Opeifa said.

He, however, assured that ongoing investigations into the derailment would not be swept under the carpet, promising that the findings would guide reforms to strengthen safety protocols.

According to Opeifa, though the incident was regrettable and avoidable, the NRC is determined to prevent a recurrence.

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“I want to assure Nigerians that an incident like this is not expected, is not prayed for, should not be happening, but where it does, it is to bring out the best in us,” he said.

Highlighting steps already being taken to reinforce safety standards, Opeifa revealed that the NRC had recently suspended operations on the Warri-Itakpe rail line to enable comprehensive maintenance work.

“And I assure Nigerians that just as we are doing currently on the Warri-Itakpe, which he (the analyst) also mentioned, we shut down the Warri-Itakpe (route) three weeks ago. I ordered the shutdown for safety reasons, and if you see the level of work the men have been doing on the track, cutting it off and replacing it, it is to make sure things like this don’t happen,” he added.

The Abuja-Kaduna train derailment occurred on Tuesday at about 11 a.m., shortly after the train departed Abuja for Kaduna. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but the incident has reignited public concerns about the safety of rail transport in the country.