The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has released its first findings on the Abuja–Kaduna train derailment that happened on August 26, 2025, at Asham Station. The agency confirmed that 21 passengers were injured but no deaths were recorded.
The train, identified as locomotive CDD5c2 2701, left Idu Station in Abuja at 9:45 am with 618 passengers on board, including Nigerian Railway Corporation staff, security operatives, and service personnel. At about 11:09 am, the train derailed shortly after passing a manually operated switch point at Asham Station. The front locomotive and some coaches overturned, leaving several passengers injured.
According to the Bureau, a preliminary report has been made public and can be accessed on its official website. The document outlines early findings and recommendations while noting that a final report will provide more detailed conclusions and safety measures to improve railway operations in the country.
Earlier, the Nigerian Railway Corporation stated that its internal review pointed to human error, citing excessive speed and misapplication of the emergency braking system as the major causes. The corporation confirmed that all derailed coaches and locomotives had been recovered and taken to workshops for further technical checks.
Repairs on the affected section of the rail line have been completed to a standard that allows train services to resume. However, work is still ongoing on the secondary track, which will remain closed until all required maintenance is done.
The corporation also announced that engineers are carrying out a full safety and infrastructure inspection along the corridor. This process includes testing the repaired line and assessing other critical facilities before restoring regular services.
Authorities have assured passengers that operations will not resume until all safety checks are cleared, stressing their commitment to restoring confidence in rail travel across the route.