Shola Akinyele
A train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna derailed near Jere Station around 11 a.m. today, flipping several cabins in a scene many passengers likened to a “Marvel movie.” The frightening accident, however, recorded no fatalities, though six passengers were confirmed injured.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched an investigation into the cause of the derailment. While experts point to weather-related factors, others argue that maintenance lapses may be to blame. This comes barely five days after the same route experienced a technical glitch at Rigasa, where one of the coaches suffered a hot axle — a dangerous overheating caused by poor lubrication. At the time, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) attributed the fault to bad weather.
Passengers who regularly use the Abuja-Kaduna service insist the train’s movement has been suspect for a while, fueling fears that poor maintenance could be undermining safety. However, many Nigerians still strongly suspect rail vandalism, pointing to a troubling pattern that raises serious concerns about security and infrastructure reliability along the busy corridor.
The Abuja-Kaduna rail line, once hailed as a safer alternative to the road plagued by banditry, now faces growing scrutiny. Today’s incident has left many questioning whether the NRC is doing enough to guarantee passenger safety.
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