The derailed Abuja-Kaduna train

RAIL transport is just getting back on track in Nigeria after many years of lull, and it can be pretty worrisome when safety issues arise. Many Nigerians are taking to travel by rail to escape traffic snarls and insecurity on the highways, and that  is why the ugly incident that occurred on Tuesday, August 26 on the Abuja-Kaduna track caused a lot of consternation. On that day, the country witnessed yet another train derailment, an incident that occurred at approximately 11:07 a.m. near Asham Train Station. Five coaches derailed, with the forward locomotive and two coaches overturning, while the rear locomotive and last coach remained on track. Initial reports suggested that there were 583 persons on board, including the crew, but later reports said that 12 people sustained minor to moderate injuries, while an eyewitness initially reported around 50 passengers injured. Thankfully, no fatalities were recorded in the incident.

However, according to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), only seven passengers out of the 618 onboard were injured during the incident. In a statement released on August 26, the NRC announced that all Abuja-Kaduna train services had been suspended till further notice. It said: “Following the derailment of the Kaduna-bound Abuja Kaduna Train Service earlier today at Asham, Kaduna, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) wishes to provide an update on the situation. A total of 618 persons — comprising 583 passengers, 15 NRC crew members, medical personnel, 8 cleaners, and 11 catering staff — were successfully evacuated from the train. Out of this number, seven passengers sustained varying degrees of injury and were immediately transported by ambulances to hospital facilities by medical personnel mobilised to the site. The remaining passengers were conveyed safely back to Idu and Kubwa stations aboard a rescue train dispatched from Idu for that purpose. All have since returned safely to their destinations. In line with our commitment to passenger welfare, our third-party ticketing company has been directed to immediately issue refunds to all passengers onboard the affected service. Furthermore, the process of investigation into the incident has commenced, under the supervision of relevant authorities and the Federal Ministry of Transportation. Meanwhile, all Abuja-Kaduna Train Services (AKTS) have been temporarily suspended, pending recovery of the site, further clearance, and official announcement of service resumption. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and thank our esteemed passengers and the general public for their understanding.“

Naturally, against the backdrop of the 188 train derailments recorded between 2020 and this year, the incident has generated misgivings about railway safety in the country.  The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) is investigating the incident focusing on site, switch, track geometry, and infrastructure examination; NRC records, crew, station, control, maintenance, and operational data analysis. It is also embarking on technical examination of locomotives, coaches, and other rolling stock analyses. However, according to the Minister of Transport, Saidu Alkali, preliminary findings suggest that the incident was an operational accident at a junction point, not the result of sabotage. Commendably, the NRC and security agencies responded quickly, evacuating passengers and securing the site. The NRC quickly began removing the derailed coaches and repairing the damaged track, with four coaches already cleared from the crash site.

To say the least, the August 26 train derailment casts a dark pall on rail transport in the country, especially against the backdrop of incidents like the March 28, 2022 terror attack on an Abuja–Kaduna train in Katari, Kaduna State, which forced the NRC to briefly halt operations along the route. The authorities therefore have a bounden duty to reassure the travelling public that everything that can be done to make rail travel easy, safe and secure in the country is being done. In general, derailments can be prevented or at least minimised through regular maintenance and inspection of tracks, trains, and infrastructure; implementation of technologies like automated train protection systems, which can automatically stop trains in case of an emergency; upgrade of signaling systems to provide accurate and timely information to train operators, and comprehensive training of operators on safe operating procedures and emergency response. In addition, train derailment can be prevented through strict enforcement of safety protocols, including speed limits and safety inspections, and upgrades of infrastructure such as tracks and bridges, to ensure that they can withstand heavy usage. Analysis of data on previous derailments and near-misses to identify patterns and areas for improvement and collaboration between railway operators, regulators, and industry experts to share best practices and lessons leant can also prove very crucial.

We have already noted that the authorities responded very commendably to the August 26 incident. That is encouraging, but they must prioritise preventive strategies. In particular, the government should address the recurring problem of theft of railway equipment. It is pure sabotage and must be treated as such. We sympathise with the Nigerians affected by the August 26 incident and wish them extremely quick recovery. We also hope that going forward, such incidents will not recur. Rail transport offers a veritable avenue to ease the pressure on the highways, reduce carnage on the roads, link vast communities and improve significantly on the Nigerian economy. We hope that the benefits will be maximised in an atmosphere of safety, security and pleasant travel experience.

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