The Abuja-Kaduna train derailment is the second to occur at the same station within 13 months. Photo credit: NSIB
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has said that its investigation into the recent Abuja-Kaduna train derailment at Asham Station has revealed that poor maintenance and a faulty track switch were key factors behind the incident.
According to the preliminary findings, several sleepers at the station that had been damaged in a previous incident were only patched instead of being properly repaired.
Investigators also found that the automatic switch mechanism at the station’s crossing point was unserviceable at the time of the derailment, which is the second to occur at the same station within 13 months.
As a result, the switch had to be manually operated and secured using a point clip, which was later discovered to be broken. This compromised the integrity of the track alignment, leading to the derailment.
The Abuja-Kaduna train derailment
The report also noted that personnel of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had received only initial training with no formal refresher courses, raising further concerns about safety standards and preparedness.
Operational and maintenance tools, including spare parts from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), were reported to be largely inaccessible at the time of the incident.
While 21 passengers sustained injuries in the accident that occurred on August 26, 2025, there were no fatalities among the 618 people on board the train.
In response, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) issued several safety recommendations. These include replacing all compromised sleepers, installing OEM-standard point switches along the Abuja–Kaduna corridor, and restoring all defective monitoring equipment.
The bureau also emphasized the need for regular refresher training for NRC personnel to reduce the risk of future accidents.
It noted, however, that the findings remain preliminary and are subject to further analysis.
The Bureau further recommended that the NRC restores all defective equipment such as communication equipment, Closed-Circuit Television cameras, clocks, and other critical instruments, to Original Equipment Manufacturer standards, as they are vital for effective monitoring, safety, and operational efficiency.
The NSIB outlined the next steps in its ongoing investigation into the Asham Station train derailment.
The bureau plans to conduct a technical inspection of the turnout and switch mechanism at Asham Station, as well as a thorough examination of the track alignment and overall infrastructure condition.
Additionally, the investigation will include detailed inspections of the locomotives and derailed coaches, focusing on critical components such as brakes, wheels, and bogies.
Investigators will also review statements from crew members, including the driver, assistant driver, conductors, and guards. Operational data such as speed logs, signal records, and communication transcripts will be analyzed to gain further insight into the events leading up to the derailment.
Passenger and eyewitness accounts will be collected and examined to complement technical findings. Finally, the bureau will conduct further analysis of the broken point clip, a component believed to have played a role in the incident.
A final report is expected to provide more comprehensive conclusions and additional safety recommendations.
