The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has blamed poor maintenance practices and a defective track switch for the recent derailment of a Kaduna-bound train at Asham Station, which left 21 passengers injured.
In its preliminary report, NSIB revealed that several damaged sleepers at the station—compromised during a previous incident—were merely patched instead of being properly replaced.
Investigators also discovered that the automatic switch mechanism at the crossing point was unserviceable and had been substituted with a manually operated point clip. That clip, however, was found broken after the accident, leading to a misalignment that caused the train to derail.
This marks the second derailment at Asham Station in just over a year, raising deeper concerns about recurring safety lapses along the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor.
The report also highlighted institutional shortcomings at the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). Personnel had reportedly received only initial training with no formal refresher courses, while critical operational tools and spare parts from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) were unavailable at the time of the incident.
The accident, which occurred on August 26, 2025, involved 618 passengers on board. While no fatalities were recorded, 21 sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Safety Recommendations
The NSIB issued several immediate recommendations, including:
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Replacement of all compromised sleepers along the Abuja–Kaduna route.
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Installation of OEM-standard point switches and restoration of defective monitoring equipment.
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Regular refresher training for NRC staff to improve preparedness.
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Full restoration of critical infrastructure, including communication systems, CCTV cameras, clocks, and other monitoring devices.
Next Steps in Investigation
The Bureau confirmed that its findings are preliminary, with further technical inspections ongoing. Upcoming investigative steps include:
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Examination of turnout and switch mechanisms at Asham Station.
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Detailed inspection of track alignment, locomotives, brakes, wheels, and bogies.
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Review of operational data such as speed logs, signals, and communication transcripts.
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Collection of crew, passenger, and eyewitness testimonies.
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Forensic analysis of the broken point clip suspected to have triggered the derailment.
A final comprehensive report is expected in the coming months, which will outline conclusive findings and additional safety measures to prevent future accidents.
